Thomas,  Douglas  Hamilton 


Genealogical  record  of  the 
family  of  Thomas 


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COMPILED 


FROM  TAPERS  IX  POSSESSION  OF  DR.  I.  HANSON  I  I  f  (  ) M  AS.. 


3  Y 


BALTIMORE: 
IIAKLKS  HARVEY  &  CO..  BOOK  AXD  -JOB  PHI N'TKRS, 


GENEALOGICAL  RECORD 


FAMILY  OF  THOMAS, 


COMPILED 


FROM  PAPERS  IN  POSSESSION  OF  DR.  J.  HANSON  THOMAS. 


BY 


DOUGLAS  H.  THOMAS, 


Baltimore,  1875. 


BALTIMORE: 

CHARLES  HARVEY  &  CO.,  BOOK  AND  .JOB  PRINTERS, 
Corner  South  and  German  Streets. 
1875. 


ntered,  according-  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1875,  by 

DOUGLAS  II.  THOMAS, 
11  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


T>4  3T 


GENEALOGICAL  RECORD. 


The  first  settlers  in  this  country  of  our  family  of  Thomas, 
were  James  and  Samuel  Thomas  ;  they  were  from  Wales, 
and  emigrated  during  the  reign  of  Queen  Ann,  settling  in 
Kent  County,  Maryland.  The  records  in  our  possession 
show  them  to  have  been  men  of  wealth  and  high  standing. 

Samuel  died  unmarried,  leaving  his  property  to  two  of  his 
nephews.  James  was  twice  married  ;  his  first  wife  being  an 
English  lady,  who  emigrated  with  him  ;  his  second  wife  was 
named  Hacket,  a  respectable  family  of  English  origin:  they 
had  several  children,  among  whom  was  James,  who  married 
Miss  Elizabeth  Bellicum,  whose  ancestors  were  from  Hol- 
land, and  were  among  the  first  settlers  on  the  Delaware,  in 
the  County  of  New  Castle,  at  that  time  in  the  Pennsylvania 
Government. 

James  and  Elizabeth  Thomas  had  issue  Philip,  William, 
Sarah  and  Rebecca.  Mrs.  Thomas  married  twice,  Farrell 
being  the  name  of  her  last  husband,  by  whom  she  had  three 
sons. 

William  Thomas  is  mentioned  as  having  been  a  great 
Latin,  Greek  and  Hebrew  scholar.  He  died  at  the  age  of 
19,  being  at  the  time  closely  engaged  on  the  study  of 
medicine. 

Sarah  and  Rebecca  both  died  young  and  unmarried. 

Philip  Thomas  was  born  in  Chestertown,  Kent  County, 
Maryland,  June  nth,  1747.  He  was  married  on  the  18th 
February,  1773,  to  Miss  Jane  Contee  Hanson,  by  Rev. 


4 


Doctor  McKenon  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  at  Frederick- 
town,  Maryland.  Philip  Thomas  studied  medicine  under 
Dr.  Van  Dyke,  of  Philadelphia,  and  practiced  in  Frederick 
County.  He  was  a  very  prominent  representative  man  of  his 
times.  He  was  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  during 
the  Revolutionary  war ;  was  also  one  of  the  Electors  of 
General  Washington  to  the  first  Presidency,  and  likewise 
the  first  President  of  the  Medical  Society  of  Maryland — 
besides  filling  numerous  other  positions  of  trust.  He  died 
the  25th  day  of  April,  181 5,  aged  67,  and  is  buried  at  Fred- 
erick, (for  copy  of  epitaph,  see  page  ).  His  wife,  Mrs. 
Jane  Contee  Thomas,  died  17th  day  of  June,  1781,  aged  34 
years. 

Mrs.  Philip  Thomas'  family  on  the  paternal  side  (Hanson), 
although  originally  English,  immigrated  from  Sweden. 
About  the  year  1592  one  of  the  Hansons,  whilst  taking  a 
tour  through  Sweden,  married  a  Swedish  lady,  who  was 
closely  connected  in  friendship,  at  least,  with  the  Royal 
Family.  She  died  after  giving  birth  to  a  son,  in  1594.  Her 
family  assumed  the  care  of  the  infant,  who  in  consequence 
grew  up  in  familiar  intimacy  with  Gustavus  Adolphus.  He 
entered  the  army,  and  was  duly  commissioned  a  Colonel, 
being  specially  retained  near  the  Royal  Person  in  action. 
In  the  meantime  his  father  died.  In  1626  Gustavus  Adol- 
phus contemplated  sending  a  colony  to  America,  but  his 
designs  were  never  accomplished,  as  the  German  wars  pre- 
sently engaged  all  the  attention  and  energies  of  the  King 
of  Sweden. 

Gustavus  Adolphus  was  slain  in  battle  at  Lutzen  16th 
November,  1632,  and  by  his  side  fell  Colonel  Hanson,  leaving 
four  sons,  namely  :  Andrew,  Randel,  (or  Randolph),  William 
and  John  Hanson,  who  were  taken  under  the  immediate  pro- 
tection of  the  Royal  Family. 


5 


In  1642  Queen  Christina  placed  them  in  the  special  care 
of  Lieutenant-Colonel  John  Printz,  Governor  of  New 
Sweden,  with  whom  they  came  to  the  Delaware,  where  a 
colony  was  formed,  occupying  the  present  State  of  Dela- 
ware. 

The  Swedish  colony  was  invaded  and  broken  up  by  one 
of  the  Dutch  Governors  of  the  Xew  Xetherland  Colony. 
After  the  fall  of  the  Colonial  Government  several  of  the 
Swedes  took  refuge  and  settled  in  the  neighboring  colony 
of  Lord  Baltimore.    This  in  the  year  1653. 

Among  the  refugees  were  the  four  Hansons.  Andrew 
settled  in  Kent  County,  and  died  in  1655,  leaving  a  widow 
and  four  small  children. 

Randolph  Hanson  settled  in  St.  Mary's  County,  but  after- 
wards removed  to  Charles,  where  he  died.  His  will  is  dated 
September  28th,  1696,  and  is  preserved,  and  in  the  custody 
of  the  Register  of  Wills  for  Anne  Arundel  County.  He 
left  one  child — a  girl. 

William  Hanson  finally  settled  in  Kent  County.  He  died 
in  1684,  leaving  a  widow,  but  no  children. 

John  Hanson  settled  in  Charles  County,  and  died  in  17 13, 
or  thereabouts.  His  will,  likewise  preserved,  is  dated  12th 
December,  1 7 1 3 .  He  had  seven  children — Robert,  John, 
Samuel,  Benjamin.  Mary,  Ann  and  Sarah. 

Samuel  Hanson's  will  is  dated  1740.  He  had  the  follow- 
ing children  :  Walter.  John,  Samuel,  William  (  who  was  Ex- 
aminer General  of  Maryland),  Elizabeth,  Charity.  Jane  and 
Chloe. 

Samuel  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature  of  Maryland, 
and  it  is  related  of  him  that  he  presented  General  Wash- 
ington 800  pounds  sterling  silver  to  cover  the  bare  feet  of  his 
soldiers  with  shoes.  Samuel  devised  to  his  sons  Samuel,  John 
and  his  wife  Elizabeth  certain  valuable  real  estate.    He  held 


6 


several  posts  of  high  distinction,  including  the  Commissary, 
and  also  the  Clerk  of  Charles  County,  positions  at  that 
period  considered  highly  honorable. 

John  Hanson,  the  son  of  the  preceding  Samuel,  married 
Jane  Contee,  daughter  of  Alexander  Contee,  and  had  issue 
Catharine  Contee,  Jane  Contee,  Alexander  Contee,  Eliza- 
beth, John,  Samuel,  Peter  Contee,  and  Grace. 

Jane  Contee  Hanson  married  Dr.  Philip  Thomas.  Catha- 
rine Contee  Hanson  married  Philip  Alexander,  who  prac- 
ticed law,  and  was  possessed  of  that  valuable  property  called 
Alexander's  Island,  above  Alexandria.  They  died  without 
issue. 

Alexander  Contee  Hanson,  Chancellor  of  Maryland,  mar- 
ried Miss  Rebecca  Howard,  of  Annapolis,  and  had  issue  two 
sons  and  a  daughter,  namely:  Charles  Wallace  and  Alex- 
ander Contee. 

Charles  Wallace  Hanson  was  Associate  Judge  for  the  6th 
Judicial  District  of  Maryland  from  1817  to  1832.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Rebecca  Ridgely,  of  Hampton.  He  died  De- 
cember 8th,  1853. 

The  daughter  of  the  Chancellor  married  Thomas  Peabody 
Grosvenor,  of  New  York,  a  distinguished  member  of  the 
House  of  Representatives,  about  1810-1815.  He  died  in 
181 5,  and  his  wife  in  181 7. 

Alexander  Contee  Hanson,  (Junior),  married  Miss  Pris- 
cilla  Dorsey,  and  had  several  children,  the  only  one  surviv- 
ing at  this  present  is  Charles  Grosvenor  Hanson,  who  mar- 
ried Miss  Annie  M.  Worthington,  by  whom  he  had  several 
children. 

John  Hanson,  the  son  of  Samuel,  was  a  member  of  the 
House  of  Delegates  of  Maryland  for  a  number  of  years,  and 
member  of  Continental  Congress  1781-82.    He  presented 
i     his  credentials  22d  February,  1 781,  and  on  the  5th  Novem- 


/ 

ber^  following  was  elected  President,  which  position  he  filled 
with  distinguished  credit  to  himself  and  marked  satisfaction 
of  Congress,  receiving  the  thanks  of  Congress  for  his  ser- 
vices November  4th,  1782. 

John  Hanson,  with  Daniel  Carroll,  under  instructions 
from  the  Legislature  of  Maryland,  signed  the  Articles  of 
Confederation  March  1st,  1781. 

General  Washington  was  received  by  Congress  on  28th 
November,  1 78 1 ,  and  was  gracefully  welcomed  by  President 
Hanson  in  a  speech  remarkable  for  dignified  modesty,  hearti- 
ness and  terseness.  The  speech  and  General  Washington's 
reply,  together  with  sundry  letters  from  the  same,  will  be 
found  in  Spark's  Life  of  Washington. 

Of  the  early  life  of  John  Hanson  but  little  is  now  remem- 
bered, beyond  few  incidents,  which  display  great  decision  of 
character,  and  moral  intrepidity,  in  a  time  "which  tried 
men's  souls."  In  the  early  part  of  the  Revolutionary  war 
some  high  toned  and  decided  resolutions  were  proposed  in 
the  House  of  Delegates,  of  which  he  was  a  member,  and 
when  the  question  was  put,  there  was  an  awful  pause,  mem- 
bers hesitating  to  stake  their  heads  and  fortunes  by  any 
hasty  or  overt  action,  then  at  the  critical  moment.  John 
Hanson  rose,  and  said:  "Mr.  President,  these  resolutions 
ought  to  pass,  it  is  high  time.';  With  these  few  words  he 
sat  down,  and  the  resolutions  were  passed  amidst  much  en- 
thusiasm. H,e  died  November,  1783,  aged  68,  at  "Oxen 
Hill,"  the  residence  of  his  nephew,  opposite  Alexandria, 
Virginia,  whilst  paying  him  a  visit.  His  Avife,  Jane  Contee 
Hanson,  died  February*  21st,  18 12.  aged  85  years. 

Alexander  Contee  Hanson,  son  of  John,  was  Assistant 
Private  Secretary  to  General  Washington,  from  which  ill 
health  obliged  him  to  retire  after  two  months  service,  Alex- 
ander Hamilton  being  Secretary  at  the  time.    He  was  like- 


8 


wise  one  of  the  first  Judges  of  the  General  Court  of  Mary- 
land, under  the  Constitution  of  1776.  A  visitor  of  St. 
John's  College,  then  in  its  palmy  days,  was  appointed,  with 
Judge  Samuel  Chase,  and  perhaps  Mr.  Pinkney,  to  compile 
the  laws  of  Maryland  ;  they  refusing  the  appointment,  he 
compiled  "  Hanson's  Laws,"  which  were  used  for  years,  and 
I  believe  are  still  in  use.  In  1788  he  was  a  delegate  to  the 
Convention  for  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States.  He  was  offered  the  appointment  of  District 
Judge  of  Maryland  by  General  Washington,  but  it  was  re- 
fused. (Spark's  Life  of  Washington,  vol.  x.,  page  56).  In 
1789  he  was  made  Chancellor  of  Maryland,  which  position 
he  held  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1806. 
In  1789  he  was  appointed  by  the  Legislature  to  complete  a 
Testamentary  System. 

Chancellor  Hanson  was  a  writer  of  great  force,  and  several 
of  the  leading  questions  of  his  period  were  most  ably  han- 
dled by  him,  under  the  sobriquet  of  "  Aristicles,"  several  of 
which  have  been  carefully  preserved  by  the  "  Maryland 
Historical  Society,"  under  the  name  of  "Hanson  Pamph- 
lets." 

Samuel  Hanson,  son  of  President  Hanson,  studied  medi- 
cine under  Dr.  Philip  Thomas,  and  served  as  surgeon  of 
General  Washington's  Life  Guards.  He  died  after  serving 
one  campaign. 

Peter  Contee  Hanson,  at  the  age  of  18  was  Lieutenant  in 
1st  Battalion  Maryland  Infantry,  Major  Otho  H..  Williams 
commanding.  He  was  mortally  wounded  whilst  bravely 
fighting  at  Fort  Washington. 

Alexander  Contee  Hanson,  son  of  the  Chancellor,  was 
like  his  father  gifted  with  a  fine  intellect,  highly  cultivated 
by  reading.  He  was  also  the  recipient  of  numerous  posi- 
tions of  trust  and  honor,  including  Senator  of  the  United 


9 


States  1816,  and  member  of  the  Maryland  Legislature. 
181 1— 1 5. 

-  He  was  the  Editor  of  the  Federal  Republican  during  the 
war  of  1 812-14,  and  being  opposed  thereto,  he  made  him- 
self obnoxious  to  the  democracy,  who  on  the  20th  of  June, 
18 12,  mobbed  his  office,  situated  northwest  corner  of  Gay 
and  Second  Streets,  and  destroyed  his  presses,  types,  etc. 
This  caused  a  temporary  suspension  of  the  paper ;  but 
gathering  together  some  kindred  spirits,  among  them  Gen- 
eral James  M.  Lingan,  General  Harry  Lee,  Capt.  Richard 
J.  Crabb,  Dr.  P.  Warfield,  Charles  J.  Kilgour,  Otho  Sprigg, 
Ephraim  Gaither,  John  Howard  Payne,  and  others,  he  forti- 
fied himself  in  a  house  belonging  to  Mr.  Wagner,  one  of  the 
editors,  on  Charles  Street,  south  of  Lombard,  and  issued 
his  paper  simultaneously  in  Baltimore  and  Georgetown. 

This  so  infuriated  his  opponents  that  they  again  mobbed 
him,  but  the  garrison  ably  defended  themselves,  killing  one 
and  wounding  others  of  the  assailants,  one  or  two  mortally. 
General  Strieker,  commanding  the  militia,  advised  them  to 
retire  from  their  position,  offering  them  military  protection. 

Hanson  was  opposed  to  any  such  action,  but  he  was  out- 
voted by  his  friends,  and  they  retired,  under  escort,  to  the 
City  Jail  for  protection,  but  were  here  inhumanly  deserted 
by  General  Strieker.  After  the  departure  of  the  military, 
the  mob  broke  into  the  Jail,  being  assisted  by  others  within, 
and  made  an  attack  upon  the  party  placed  there  for  protec- 
tion. The  mob  was  led  by  a  man  named  Mumma,  to  whom 
most  of  the  Hanson  party  were  known,  these  he  pointed 
out  for  the  fury  of  the  mob,  who  beat  them,  threw  them 
down  the  stairs,  where  they  lay  in  a  heap  for  three  hours. 
During  all  this  time  the  mob  continued  to  torture  their 
mangled  bodies  ;  by  beating  them,  sticking  pen-knives  in 
their  hands  and  faces,  opening  their  eyes  and  dropping  hot 
2 


10 


.candle  greese  in  them,  and  also  by  applying  lighted  fagots 
to  their  wounds.  General  Lingen  was  killed  ;  Hanson  after 
standing  all  these  tests,  was  left  for  dead  by  the  Mob,  who 
dispersed  to  break  into  the  Post  Office,  where  the  issue  of 
the  Federal  Republican  was  awaiting  mailing ;  he  was  se- 
cretly carried  to  "  Belvidere,"  Col.  John  Eager  Howard's 
house,  near  the  Jail,  and  so  soon  as  he  was  able  to  bear  it, 
he  was  carried  under  an  escort  of  his  friends  to  Frederick. 
(For  full  particulars  of  the  Mob,  see  "  Chronicles  of  Balti- 
more," by  Scharf.) 

Presentments  were  found  against  many  individuals  of  each 
party,  but  all  were  acquitted  and  discharged.  These  mobs 
and  outrages  contributed  not  a  little  to  the  political  revolu- 
tion, which  within  three  months,  gave  the  Federalists  a  large 
majority  in  the  Maryland  Assembly,  by  whom  Alex.  Contee 
Hanson  was  chosen  a  member  of  Congress.  He  continued 
the  publication  of  his  paper  in  Georgetown  for  some  time 
after  the  mob.  Alexander  Contee  Hanson  had  a  duel  with 
Captain  Charles  Gordon,  U.  S.  N.,  whom  he  wounded. 

Mrs.  Philip  Thomas'  family,  (on  the  maternal  side  Contee,) 
were  originally  from  Rochelle,  France,  but  being  Protestants, 
emigrated  to  England  during  the  reign  of  Louis  XlVth. 
Adolphe  de  Contee  was  High  Sheriff  of  London  and  Mid- 
dlesex in  1643.  The  motto  under  his  "Arms"  in  Guild  Hall 
London,  is  "  Pour  Dieu  et  mon  Roi."  In  the  French  Her- 
aldric  work,  called  "  La  Franco  Genealogique,"  the  name  is 
written  "  De  Contee  of  Rochelle,"  and  has  the  title  of  Vis- 
count attached.  It  also  appears  there  are  three  other  fami- 
lies of  Contie  and  Conte  in  France,  all  evidently  having  the 
same  origin,  Marquis  of  Graviers,  Count  de  Noirant  of  Nor- 
mandy, and  the  Baron  de  Conte  of  Orange  ;  they  all  have 
the  same  arms. 

The  first  Contees  of  whom  we  have  ancestral  record,  are 


1 1 

Peter  Contcc  and  Catharine  his  wife,  who  lived  in  Barnstable, 
Devonshire,  England. 

Their  son  Alexander,  whom  it  appears  by  the  Parish  Re- 
cords, was  baptized  "  ye  22d  day  of  April.  1693,"  accompanied 
by  his  Uncle,  John  Contee,  emigrated  to  America  and  settled 
in  Prince  George's  County,  Maryland,  of  which  county  Alex- 
ander was  Clerk,  a  position  of  prominence  at  that  period. 

He  married  Miss  Jane  .  and  had  issue,  John,  Peter, 

Thomas.  Alexander,  Jane,  Katherine  and  Grace.  In  his 
will,  dated  1739,  he  bequeaths  a  very  extensive  real  and  per- 
sonal estate,  also  mourning  rings  of  a  guinea's  value  to  Dan- 
iel Dulany,  Edward  Jennings,  eminent  lawyers  of  the  Pro- 
vincial bar,  and  also  to  Philip  Key,  ancestor  of  Francis  Scott 
Key,  author  of  the  "  Star  Spangled  Banner,"  with  the  in- 
scription :  "  Remember  A  Contee."  In  his  will  he  mentions 
some  silver,  which  at  this  writing,  is  possessed  in  beautiful 
preservation  by  Dr.  John  Hanson  Thomas,  and  consists  of 
a  small  tea  pot,  cream  jug,  a  sugar  box  with  a  spoon. and 
stand,  and  small  waiter,  they  bear  the  full  coat  of  arms, 
and  have  the  Tower  of  London  stamp  upon  them,  indi- 
cating the  date  of  manufacture,  1620.  A  large  punch  bowl, 
part  of  the  same  service,  is  now  in  possession  of  Charles  S. 
Contee  of  Prince  George  County.  The  testator  desires  in 
his  will  to  be  buried  according  to  the  services  of  the  "  Ensr- 
lish  Church,"  and  gives  a  guinea  apiece  to  the  Rectors  of 
St.  Paul's  Church,  Prince  George  County,  and  Port  Tobacco 
Church,  Charles  County,  to  preach  a  funeral  Sermon  on  "Ye 
Folly  and  Danger  of  ye  death-bed  repentance." 

The  will  of  the  Honorable  Colonel  John  Contee,  brother 
of  Peter  Contee  of  Barnstable,  and  one  of  the  first  immi- 
grants, is  dated  1706  or  1709  ;  the  only  positions  he  held,  as 
far  as  I  am  aware,  were  Colonel  of  the  Militia,  and  member 
of  the  Council  of  State.    His  will  throws  so  much  light  up- 


12 


on  society  of  that  period  that  especial  reference  is  made 
thereto.    (See  page  .) 

He  bequeaths  lands  in  Maryland  to  his  brother  Peter,  and 
also  to  his  mother,  Mrs.  Grace  Contee,  and  gives  20,000  lbs. 
of  Tobacco,  in  casks,  then  a  part  of  the  currency  of  the 
Province,  for  the  use  of  the  Ministry,  also  mourning  rings 
to  his  friends. 

Jane  Contee,  the  daughter  of  Alexander,  married  John  Han- 
son ;  Jane  Contee  Hanson,  their  daughter,  married  Dr.  Philip 
Thomas,  and  had  issue  besides  those  who  died  in  infancy, 
Catherine,  Rebecca  Bellicum,  and  John  Hanson  Thomas; 
Catharine  Hanson  Thomas  married  Dr.  Ashton  Alexander, 
and  had  issue  Ashton,  George  and  Elizabeth  ;  George  married 
Miss  Levering;  Rebecca  Bellicum  married  Judge  Alexander 
Contee  Magruder,  and  had  issue,  Rebecca  Thomas  Magruder, 
who  married  Major  Scott,  U.  S.  A. ;  Jane,  who  married 
Mr.  Byias,  John  Hanson  Thomas  Magruder,  State  Librarian, 
Annapolis,  and  Philip  Magruder. 

John  Hanson  Thomas  married  Miss  Mary  Isham  Colston, 
daughter  of  Rawleigh  Colston,  of  Honeywood,  Berkeley 
County,  Virginia,  on  October  5th,  1809. 

Mrs.  Thomas'  family,  (on  the  Paternal  side  Colston,)  were 
English,  the  first  immigrant  was  William,  brother  of  Edward 
Colston. of  Bristol,  England,  the  great  Philanthropist;  they 
were  descended  by  a  long  line  of  Ancestry,  from  Robert  de 
Colston  of  Colston  Hall,  in  the  County  of  Lincoln,  living  at 
the  time  of  the  Conquest,  many  of  whose  descendants  were 
Knights.  Rowland  de  Colston  of  Colston,  married  the 
daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Winterburen,  Knight,  and  had  is- 
sue two  sons  :  Thomas  of  Colston  and  James,  from  the  latter 
through  a  descent  of  nine  generations  this  branch  of  the 
family,  that  of  Preston  Mercer  descended. 

Edward  and  William  were  sons  of  William  Colston  of 


13 


Bristol,  who  was  largely  engaged  in  the  Spanish  and  Levan- 
tine trade,  to  which  his  son  Edward  fell  heir,  and  by  it 
amassed  an  enormous  fortune,  which  he  employed  in  reliev- 
ing the  afflicted.  He  founded  several  Hospitals,  Alms 
Houses,  Charity  Schools,  etc.,  all  of  which  I  had  Photo- 
graphed, through  the  kindness  of  the  Post  Master  at  Bristol. 

His  statue  in  marble  is  deposited  in  All  Saints'  Church, 
Bristol,  where  a  sermon  is  annually  preached,  accompanied 
by  the  sound  of  muffled  bells. 

William  migrated  to  America,  and  was  Clerk  of  Rap- 
pahannock County,  Virginia ;  he  had  a  son  named  Wil- 
liam and  some  daughters;  William  had  two  sons:  William 
and  Charles ;  Charles  married  Miss  Susan  Traverse,  and  had 
issue  Traverse  and  Susanna,  who  married  Mr.  Eustice,  and 
died  without  issue.  Traverse  married  for  his  first  wife  Miss 
Alice  Corbin  Griffin,  daughter  of  Colonel  Thomas  Griffin,  of 
Richmond  County,  Virginia,  by  whom  he  had  issue  Charles 
and  Elizabeth  Griffin  Colston  ;  Charles  married  Miss  Ann 
Fauntleroy;  Elizabeth  married  Colonel  Wm.  Peachy  of 
Richmond  County,  Virginia. 

Traverse-  Colston  married  for  his  second  wife  Susanna 
Opie,  then  the  widow  of  a  Mr.  Kenner,  and  had  the  follow- 
ing issue  :  Traverse,  who  died  under  age,  William,  Razvleigh, 
and  Samuel,  who  was  a  Captain  during  the  Revolutionary 
War,  and  died  unmarried  ;  William  inter-married  with  Miss 
Lucy  Carter,  daughter  of  Colonel  Landon  Carter,  of  Sabine 
Hall,  in  the  County  of  Richmond,  and  had  issue  William, 
Traverse,  Elizabeth  and  Susanna. 

Rawleigh  Colston  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Marshall,  daugh- 
ter of  Colonel  Thomas  Marshall  of  Fauquier  County,  Vir- 
ginia, afterwards  of  Kentucky. 

The  family  of  Mrs.  Mary  Isham  Thomas,  (on  the  Mater- 
nal side  Marshall,)  were  from  Wales  ;  they  settled  in  West- 


14 


moreland  County,  Virginia  ;  the  first  of  whom  we  have  an- 
cestral record  is  John  Marshall,  who  mairied  Miss  Markham; 
they  had  issue  nine  children  of  whom  Thomas '  was  the  oldest ; 
he  married  Miss  Mary  Keith,  daughter  of  a  Clergyman,  who 
migrated  from  Scotland  and  intermarried  with  Miss  Ran- 
dolph of  James  River. 

Thomas  Marshall  and  Mary,  his  wife,  had  fifteen  children, 
John,  Thomas,  James,  William,  Charles,  Alexander,  Lewis, 
Elizabeth,  Anna  Maria,  Judith,  Lucy,  Susan,  Charlotte,  Jane 
and  Nancy,  all  of  whom  married. 

John  Marshall  was  the  oldest,  he  was  educated  at  home, 
under  the  directions  of  his  father,  who  was  a  planter  and  a 
surveyor. 

From  his  infancy  John  Marshall  was  destined  for  the  Bar, 
but  the  contest  between  the  Mother  Country  and  her  Col-  1 
onies  drew  him  from  his  studies,  and  in  September  1775  he 
entered  the  Continental  Service  as  a  subaltern  ;  he  continued 
in  the  army  until  1781,  when  being  without  a  command 
he  resigned  his  commission.  In  1782  he  was  elected  to 
the  Virginia  Legislature,  and  in  the  fall  of  the  year  was 
chosen  a  member  of  the  Executive  Council  of  State,  which 
he  resigned  in  1784  and  practiced  law,  at  which  he  continued 
declining  any  other  public  office  than  a  seat  in  the  Legisla- 
ture,  until  the  year  1797,  when  he  was  associated  with  Gen- 
eral Pinkney  and  Mr.  Gerry  in  a  mission  to  France.  In  1798 
he  returned  to  the  United  States,  and  in  the  Spring  of  1799 
he  was  elected  a  member  of  Congress,  a  candidate  for  which, 
much  against  his  inclination,  he  was  induced  to  become  at 
the  request  of  General  Washington.  At  the  close  of  the 
first  session  he  was  nominated,  first  to  the  Department  of 
War,  and  afterwards  to  that  of  State,  which  last  office  he  ac- 
cepted and  occupied  until  1801,  when  he  was  made  Chief 
Justice  of  the  United  States  by  President  John  Adams, 


i5 

which  position  he  held  at  the  time  of  his  death.  As  regards 
Chief  Justice  Marshall's  legal  decisions  and  purity  of  char- 
acter, I  say  nothing,  for  they  will  be  ever  remembered  by  the 
people  of  this  country. 

I  have  frequently  heard  my  father  narrate  little  anecdotes 
of  the  Chief,  at  whose  house  he  repeatedly  staid  when  in 
Richmond.  Showing  his  childlike  modesty  and  simplicity, 
he  frequently  recalls  the  time  the  Chief  and  himself  would 
pitch  quoits  together,  in  which  the  former  took  great  pleas- 
ure. He  would  take  off  his  coat,  and  would  be  just  as  par- 
ticular in  measuring  the  score,  as  if  weighing-  evidence  in  the 
most  important  legal  case. 

Chief  Justice  Marshall  married  on  3rd  January,  1783,  Miss 
Mary  Willis  Ambler,  the  second  daughter  of  Jacquilin  Amb- 
ler, then  Treasurer  of  Virginia,  who  was  the  third  son  of  Mr. 
Richard  Ambler,  who  migrated  from  England,  and  settled  in 
Yorktown,  Virginia. 

Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Col.  Thomas  Marshall,  intermarried 
with  Rawleigh  Colston,  of  "Honeywood,"  and  had  issue 
Edward,  Susan,  Mary  Isham,  Thomas  Marshall,  Rawleigh 
Traverse,  Lucy  Ann,  and  John  James  Marshall. 

Edward  married  for  his  first  wife  Miss  Jane  Marshall ;  his 
second,  Miss  Jane  Brockenborough,  and  had  issue  by  her — 
Elizabeth,  Jane,  Maty,  Rawleigh,  William,  Lucy,  Judith  and 
Edward. 

Susan  Colston  married  B.  Watkins  Leigh,  and  had  issue 
William,  who  married  Miss  Mary  White  Colston,  and  Mary 
Susan,  who  married  Conway  Robinson.  Lucy  Ann  and 
John  died  single.  Thomas  Marshall  Colston  married  Miss 
Elizabeth  Fisher,  and  had  issue  Rawleigh,  Nancy  and 
Elizabeth. 

Rawleigh  Traverse  Colston,  son  of  Rawleigh,  married 
Mrs.  Kellerman,  the  widow  of  the  Duke  Valmey,  one  of 


i6 

Napoleon's  Marshals,  but  had  no  children — although  one 
was  claimed  by  Mrs.  Colton  as  the  issue  of  their  marriage. 
He  was  named  Rawleigh  Edward,  and  was  for  several  years 
an  inmate  of  Edward  Colston's  house  at  Honey  wood.  His 
supposed  mother  on  her  death-bed  made  known  to  her  hus- 
band the  fraud  she  had  practiced  on  him — Rawleigh  Edward 
Colston,  as  he  was  named,  being  some  one  else's  child,  and 
and  not  hers.  He  became  a  State  cadet  at  the  Virginia 
Military  Institute,  Lexington,  by  the  influence  of  Edward 
Colston,  and  was  a  General  in  the  Confederate  States  ser- 
vice. In  1873  he  attached  himself  to  the  Egyptian  service 
with  other  American  officers. 

Mary  Isham  Colston  married  John  Hanson  Thomas,  October 
5,  1809,  and  had  issue  Philip  Hanson,  born  September  10th, 
1810,  died  November  nth,  182-1;  Rawleigh  Colston,  born 
1 2th  August,  1 8 1 2,  died  June  16th,  1826;  Charles  Edward, 
born  23d  September,  1813,  being  the  only  child  who  reached 
manhood.  His  name  was  subsequently  changed  by  an  Act 
of  the  Legislature  to  that  of  his  father,  John  Hanson 
Thomas. 

John  Hansoji  Thomas,  the  son  of  Philip,  was  a  most  tal- 
ented man,  and  a  most  eloquent  speaker.  On  one  occasion 
he  was  opposed  to  Mr.  Pinkney  in  a  political  contest  or  j 
debate,  which  took  place  at  a  meeting  by  appointment.  Of 
course  every  one  flocked  to  hear  the  great  Pinkney, 
and  he  spoke  first,  and  was  followed  by  John  Hanson 
Thomas,  who  so  completely  discomforted  Mr.  Pinkney,  that 
he  left  the  meeting,  although  challenged  to  stand  and 
make  his  defence.  He  eagerly  sought  his  horse,  and  failed 
to  keep  the  remaining  appointments. 

John  Hanson  Thomas  held  several  positions  of  trust  and 
honor,  among  them  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Defence 
1812-14.    Was  a  member  of  the  State  Legislature.    He  was 


i7 


the  person  selected  by  the  Federalists  of  Maryland,  who 
were  in  the  ascendancy,  to  be  elected  to  the  United  States 
Senate,  but  dying  before  the  time,  Alexander  Contee  Hanson, 
his  cousin,  was  elected.  He  died  May  2d,  181 5,  being  exactly 
one  week  after  the  death  of  his  father,  from  whom  he  con- 
tracted the  same  disease,  whilst  faithfully  attending  him 
during  his  sickness.  They  are  both  buried  in  Frederick. 
(For  epitaph,  see  page  .) 

John  Hanson  Thomas,  son  of  John  Hanson  Thomas, 
was  born  in  Frederick,  Maryland,  and  raised  in  Virginia. 
He  came  to  Baltimore  23d  September,  1834,  his  21st 
birthday,  and  entered  Dr.  Alexander's  office,  where  he 
remained  a  few  months  and  attended  lectures  that  winter, 
and  was  appointed  one  of  the  resident  students  of  the 
Baltimore  Infirmary,  graduating  in  March,  1836,  but  prac- 
ticed medicine  but  a  short  time. 

He  was  married  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Maguire  on  the  15th 
November,  1837,  to  Miss  Annie  Campbell  Gordon,  daughter 
of  Bazil,  and  Anna  Campbell  Gordon,  of  Falmouth,  Vir- 
ginia, and  had  issue  Basil  Gordon,  born  April  14,  1839; 
John  Hanson,  September  21,  1841  ;  Raleigh  Colston,  Octo- 
ber 8,  1844;  Douglas  Hamilton,  January  1,  1847;  Nannie 
Gordon,  May  20,  1849;  Mary  Randolph,  October  10,  1851, 
and  John  Marshall,  December  5,  1853. 

Dr.  John  Hanson  Thomas  has  been  identified  with  the 
interests  of  the  City  of  Baltimore  since  his  removal  thereto. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  City  Council,  State  Legislature, 
and  President  of  the  Farmers'  and  Merchants'  Bank  for  34 
years,  besides  filling  other  positions  of  trust  and  honor,  in- 
cluding directorship  in  Insurance  Companies,  and  President 
of  the  Academy  of  Music. 

During  the  war  1861-64,  when  a  member  of  the  Legisla- 
ture, he  with  ten  others  were  arrested  on  12th  September, 
'  3 


i8 

1861,  and  confined  in  various  United  States  Forts  for  six 
months. 

John  Hanson  Thomas,  Junior,  married  Miss  Mary  Howard 
Beirne,  daughter  of  Hon.  George  P.  Beirne,  of  Huntsville, 
Alabama.  His  wife  died  October  7,  1867,  leaving  a  son — 
Howard  Beirne  Thomas,  born  26th  September,  1867. 

Raleigh  Colston  Thomas  married  Miss  Mary  McDonald, 
daughter  of  William  McDonald  of  "  Guilford,"  Baltimore 
County,  November  25,  1868,  and  has  issue  Mary  McDonald, 
born  January  30,  1872;  Raleigh  Colston,  born  5th  August, 

IB75-  '  . 

Douglas  Hamilton  Thomas  was  married  by  the  Rev.  Drs. 
Milo  Mahan  and  Dudley,  January  25th,  1870,  to  Miss  Alice 
Lee,  daughter  of  Dr.  John  and  Catharine  C.  Whitridge,  of 
Baltimore,  and  has  issue  Douglas  Hamilton,  born  5th 
March,  1872. 

Mary  Randolph  married  John  N.  Carroll,  of  the  "  Caves," 
Baltimore  County,  April  21st,  1870,  and  has  issue  John 
Nicholas,  born  4th  March,  1871,  and  Charles,  born  July  17th,  ! 
1872. 

Mrs.  John  Hanso.n  Thomas'  family,  (on  the  Paternal  side 
Gordon,)  were  from  Scotland. 

The  first  of  whom  we  have  Ancestral  Record  is  Samuel 
Gordon,  who  was  born  in  1656.  He  married  Margaret  McKin- 
nell,  they  lived  at  "  Stockerton,"  in  the  Parish  of  Kirkcud- 
bright, Scotland  ;  he  was  the  first  of  the  name  on  Stockerton 
farm4,  where  he  died  15th  of  April,  1732,  aged  76.  His  cir- 
cumstances were  comfortable  as  a  respectable  farmer,  but 
nothing  is  positively  known  as  to  his  parentage,  only,  that  in 
some  way  he  was  related  to  the  families  of  Lord  Kenmuir, 
and  the  Gordons  of  Greenlaw,  and  was  visited  by  both  fam- 
ilies, especially  by  Sir  Alexander  and  Lady  Gordon  of 
Greenlaw. 


19 


John  Gordon,  son  of  Samuel,  married  Miss  Grace  Newall ; 
he  died  August  23d,  1738,  aged  56  years. 

Samuel  Gordon,  the  first  of  Lochdougan,  son  of  John, 
married  Miss  Nicholas  BroAvn,  daughter  of  John  Brown  of 
I     Craigen  Callie,  and  Margaret  McClamrock  of  Craigen  Bay, 
;     and  was  the  last  person  baptized  by  Rev.  James  Renwick, 
I     who  was  beheaded  at  the  Cross  of  Edinburgh.    Mrs.  Nicho- 
las Brown  Gordon  was  from  the  Carsluth  family,  her  grand- 
father and  Uncle  were  ministers  in  the  Parish  of  Kirkina- 
brook. 

Samuel  Gordon  and  his  wife  Nicholas  Brown  Gordon  of 
"  Lochdougan/'  had  a  large  family,  many  of  whom  were  born 
at  "  Stockerton,"  before  their  removal  to  "Lochdougan." 
One  daughter  married  Mr.  Herron  of  Kegton,  and  died,  leav- 
|  ing  one  son  John  ;  the  other  daughter  married  John  Bell  of 
Gribdae,  and  died  June  3d,  1826,  at  the  age  of  77.  Samuel 
Gordon  died  February  22d, '1799,  and  his  wife  November 
!  1 8th,  1795,  aged  71  years.  Their  oldest  son,  John,  married 
Miss  Brown,  and  at  his  father's  death  inherited  the  two 
"  Lochdougans." 

Three  younger  sons :  Samuel,  Bazil  and  Alexander,  mi- 
grated to  Virginia,  where  they  engaged  in  mercantile  busi- 
;  ness.  Alexander  afterward  returned  to  Scotland,  and  died 
j      in  the  year  18 19. 

Samuel  Gordon  married  Miss  Susannah  Knox. 

Bazil  Gordon  married  her  sister,  Miss  Annie  Campbell  Knox, 
and  had  issue  :  Douglas  Hamilton,  Bazil  Brown,  Annie  Camp- 
bell, Susan,  and  others,  who  died  young. 

The  family  of  Mrs.  John  Hanson  Thomas,  (on  the  Mater- 
nal side  Knox,)  were  from  Scotland  ;  the  first  of  whom  that 
came  to  this  country,  were  William  Knox,  (Gentleman) 
Robert  and  John  ;  their  mother's  name  was  Janet  Somerville  ; 
father's  name  not  remembered.    Annie  Knox,  sister  of  the 


20 


Immigrants,  married  Mr.  Campbell  and  lived  and  died  in 
Scotland. 

John  Knox  lived  a  batchelor  at  "Orchard  Fields,"  Stafford 
County,  Virginia,  were  he  was  murdered  by  his  slaves,  whom 
he  had  promised  to  set  free  by  his  will,  some  150  in  number, 
and  which  not  being  made  at  the  time  of  his  death,  they 
were  inherited  by  his  brother  William. 

Robert  Knox  settled  in  Maryland,  were  he  married  and 
had  issue,  but  all  traces  of  them  are  lost. 

The  Knoxes  owned  large  landed  property  in  Virginia,  con- 
sisting of,  "Windsor  Lodge,"  Culpepper  County,  "Berry 
Hill,"  Stafford  County,  "  Orchard  Fields,"  Stafford  County, 
"  Bellmont,"  same  County,  (where  most  of  the  old  mem- 
bers of  the  family  are  buried,)  "  Smiths  Mount,"  and  "  Van- 
cluse,"  in  Westmoreland  County. 

William  Knox,  of  "  Windsor  Lodge,"  in  1766,  married  Miss 
Susannah,  only  daughter  of  Thomas  Fitzhugh,  Sr.,  (Gentle- 
man) of  "  Boscobel,"  Stafford  County;  her  mother's  name 
was  Sarah  Stuart,  of  King  George  County,  a  descendant  of 
the  Royal  Stuarts.  It  is  a  rather  remarkable  fact  that  the 
Knoxes  of  Virginia,  who  were  of  the  same  Clan  as  John  Knox, 
the  Reformer,  should  become  allied  by  marriage,  and  mingle 
their  blood  with  the  Mary  Stuart,  whom  he  so  bitterly  de- 
tested. 

William  and  Susannah  Knox  had  issue  :  Dr.  Thomas  Fitz- 
hugh, Susannah  Fitzhugh,  Agnes,  Annie  Campbell,  Jessie, 
Sarah  Stuart,  Caroline,  William  A.,  and  John  Somerville 
Knox. 

Dr.  Thomas  Fitzhugh  Knox  married  Miss  Mary  Reiley, 
daughter  of  James  Reiley  of  Winchester,  by  Miss  McBryde 
of  Delaware  ;  they  had  issue:  Henry  Knox,  Ann  Somerville, 
Thomas  Fitzhugh,  William  Henry  and  James  McBryde. 

Susannah  Knox  married  Samuel  Gordon  of  "  Kenmuir," 


21 


and  died  ioth  July,  1869,  aged  94:  they  had  issue:  William 
Knox,  Samuel,  Alexander.  John,  Bazil  and  Wellington,  Man*, 
wife  of  Dr.  John  H.  Wallace  of  Fredericksburg,  Agnes,  wife 
of  C.  Hughes  Armstead  of  Baltimore,  and  Susan,  widow  of 
Mr.  Ryan  of  Baltimore. 

Agnes  Knox  married  Samuel  Gordon,  nephew  of  Samuel 
and  Bazil  Gordon  :  they  lived  at  the  old  family  place,"  Loch- 
dougan,"  for  some  time,  but  afterwards  settled  near  Falmouth, 
Virginia  :  they  had  issue :  John,  Samuel,  William,  Bazil  and 
Marian,  who  married  Edmund  Taylor  of  Caroline  County, 
Virginia  ;  Bazil  was  a  very*  celebrated  Engineer  and  built  the 
High  Bridge,  near  Farmville,  Virginia.  He  was  afterwards 
killed  in  St.  Louis.  Mo.,  by  two  deserters  from  the  United 
States  fort ;  their  object  being  money,  large  sums  of  which  he 
had  been  collecting*  for  several  weeks,  and  which  he  had  sent 
away  the  night  before  his  murder  ;  the  murderers  were  after- 
wards hanged. 

Annie  Campbell  Knox  married  Bazil  Gordon,  of  Falmouth. 
Virginia,  and  had  issue  as  already  stated. 

Jessie  Knox  married  William  Edward  Voss,  and  lived  in 
Rappahannock  County,  Virginia  ;  they  had  issue  :  William, 
Robert.  Benjamin  Franklin,  and  Susan,  who  married  Mr. 
Richard  Xorris,  of  Baltimore. 

Sarah  Stuart  Knox  and  Caroline  both  died  unmarried. 

William  A.  Knox  married  Miss  Sarah  Alexander,  and  had 
issue :  Agnes  Gordon,  William,  Henry,  Man.*  Eliza,  Jessie, 
Bolivar,  and  Annie  Bell  Knox.  Agnes  Gordon  married  Mr. 
James  T.  Soutter ;  who  by  right  of  birth  was  heir  of  the 
Marquisate  and  Earldom  of  Annandale.  of  Scotland,  who. 
although  frequently  pressed  by  lawyers  from  Temple  Bar, 
to  apply  for  his  rights,  steadfastly  refused. 

John  Somerville  Knox  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Selden, 
and  had  issue:  Churchill,  Annie,  John.  Janet,  and  Robert. 


Douglas  Hamilton  Gordon,  son  of  Bazil  and  Annie  Camp- 
bell Gordon,  married  Miss  Mary  Ellen  Clarke,  daughter  of 
Colin  Clarke,  of  Glouchester,  Virginia  ;  had  issue  :  Ellen  D. 
Gordon. 

His  second  wife  was  Miss  Ann  Eliza,  daughter  of  J. 
Hampden  Pleasants  of  Richmond;  have  issue,  now  living : 
Bazil,  Douglas  H.,  Mary,  Annie  Campbell,  and  Rose  Stanly 
Gordon. 

Bazil  Brown  Gordon  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Boiling  Skip- 
with,  daughter  of  Henry  Skipwith,  April  24th,  1840;  had 
issue:  Bazil  F.,  born  February  10th,  1841,  and  Henry  Skip- 
with, born  October  25th,  1844.  Bazil  B.  Gordon  died  October 
9th,  1846,  and  his  son  Bazil  F.,  March  9th,  1866. 

Henry  Skipwith  Gordon  married  Miss  Mary  T.  Wheeler, 
of  Washington  ;  and  had  issue  :  Bazil,  born  October  5th, 
1866,  and  Henry  Skipwith,  born  August  25th,  1868.  Henry 
Skipwith  Gordon  was  married  January  9th,  1866. 

The  following  account  of  the  Thomas  family,  was  written 
by  Dr.  Philip  Thomas,  in  a  Family  Bible,  which  is  in  the 
possession  of  Mr.  L.  Levering,  of  St.  Louis  : 


Dr.  Phillip  Thomas  and  Miss  Jane  Contee  Hanson  were 
married  February  18th,  1773,  at  Fredericktown,  Maryland, 
by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Daniel  McKennon,  of  the  Protestant  Epis- 
copal Church  ;  they  being  members  of  that  Church,  and  so 
were  the  parents  of  each.  They  had  the  following  children  : 
a  female  child,  born  August,  1773,  four  months  premature; 
James  Thomas,  born  August,  1774,  two  months  premature  ; 
was  baptized,  and  died  three  hours  after  his  birth  ;  Catha- 
rine Hanson  Thomas,  born  October  15th,  1775,  eleven 
o'clock  at  night;  Rebecca  Bellicum  Thomas,  born  February 


23 


8th,  1777  ;  John  Hanson  Thomas,  born  May  16th,  1779  ;  a 
male  child,  still  born  January,  1780,  five  months  premature. 

Mrs.  Jane  Contee  Thomas,  born  in  February  1747,  in 
Charles  County,  Maryland,  departed  this  life  the  17th  June, 
1 78 1,  aged  34  years,  5  months. 

Dr.  Philip  Thomas,  born  near  Chestertown,  Kent  County, 
on  11th  June,  1747  ;  his  father,  James,  and  his  mother,  Eliz- 
beth  Thomas,  (her  maiden  name  Bellicum,)  were  natives. 
His  father  was  born  in  Kent  County,  Maryland,  and  his 
mother  in  Cecil  or  New  Castle  County.  His  grand-father 
was  an  Englishman  named  Thomas,  born  in  Wales  or  West 
England  :  he  and  his  brother,  the  latter  of  whom  had  no 
children,  were  among  the  first  settlers  in  Kent  County;  they 
came  over  in  the  reign  of  Queen  Ann,  and  were  both  pos- 
sessed of  landed  property.  One  of  them  said  to  be  a  Whig, 
the  other  a  Tory,  but  lived  in  fraternal  affection  and  friend- 
ship, and  the  property  of  him,  (a  Colonel  of  militia,)  who 
died  without  children,  descended  by  his  will,  to  two  of  his 
nephews,  brothers  of  Philip  Thomas'  father. 

Philip  Thomas'  grand-father,  Bellicum,  was  from  Holland  ; 
one  of  the  first  settlers  on  the  Delaware,  and  must  have 
been  wealthy,  leaving  a  number  of  children,  all  of  whom 
possessed  landed  property  in  County  of  Xew  Castle,  then  in 
the  Pennsylvania  Government.  Philip  Thomas'  mother  and 
one  of  her  brothers,  Christopher  Bellicum,  held  landed  prop- 
erty in  Kent  County,  Maryland. 

Philip  Thomas'  grand-father,  Thomas,  whose  name  was 
James,  (his  brother's  name  Samuel, )  was  twice  married  ;  his 
first  wife,  an  English  lady,  came  in  with  him,  his  second  wife, 
grandmother  of  Philip  Thomas,  was  named  Hacket,  a  re- 
spectable family  of  English  descent. 

Mrs.  Jane  Contee  Thomas'  grandsires  on  the  father's  and 
mother's  side,  were  Englishmen,  possessed  valuable  real 


24 


property,  and  were  among  the  first  settlers  in  Prince  George 
and  Charles  Counties,  Maryland.  Her  father,  John  Hanson, 
was  a  member  of  the  provincial  and  State  legislatures,  more 
than  twenty-five  years,  and  was  a  member  of  Congress  three 
years,  the  last  of  which  he  was  President,  1782. 

The  name  of  Mrs.  Thomas'  grand-father  on  the  mother's 
side,  was  Alexander  Contee,  although  an  Englishman  him- 
self ;  his  ancestry  were  from  France,  (they  being  Protestants,) 
went  over  in  the  life  of  Lewis  14th. 

The  whole  of  Philip  Thomas'  and  Jane  Contee  Thomas' 
families,  as  far  as  he  or  she  had  any  information,  were  Pro- 
testant Episcopalians,  and  so  they  continue,  trusting  there  is 
no  other  religious  profession  better  calculated  in  practice  to 
insure  happiness  here  and  hereafter,  ever  yet  given  to  man. 

Philip  Thomas  had  a  brother  and  two  sisters  (and  three 
half-brothers  whose  name  was  Farrell,)  his  mother  having 
been  twice  married  ;  his  full  brothers  and  sisters  all  died 
single.  His  brother,  whose  education  was  equal  to  any 
young  man's  in  that  part  of  the  country,  (who,  after  reading 
the  Latin  and  Greek  classics,  learned  the  Hebrew  language, 
and  studied  mathematics,)  died  at  the  age  of  19  years,  being 
closely  engaged  in  the  study  of  Physic  one  year.  His  genius 
and  manners  were  such  as  to  give  his  family  and  very  numer- 
ous friends  the  most  flattering  hopes  of  his  succeeding  in 
his  laudable  pursuits,  to  their  utmost  wishes.  His  name 
was  William.  His  memory  the  more  revered,  from  the  great 
similitude  of  genius,  morals  and  manners,  which  appear  in 
his  nephew,  John  Hanson  Thomas,  to  the  great  comfort  and 
delight  of  the  father  of  the  latter.  The  uncommon  distress 
suffered  by  his  father,  who  was  possessed  of  an  uncommon 
strong  mind,  at  the  loss  of  his  son,  upon  whose  education 
he  had  bestowed  great  care,  at  a  heavy  expense,  it  was  sup- 
posed, shortened  his  own  life,  which  happened  not  long  after- 
wards. 


25 


The  two  sisters  named,  were  Sarah  and  Rebecca,  beloved 
and  amiable,  both  dying  in  the  bloom  of  life,  unmarried. 

Mrs.  Thomas  had  some  brothers  and  sisters  most  of  whom 
died  very  young.  She  had  a  sister  named  Catherine  Contee, 
who  married  Philip  Alexander,  of  Virginia,  who  practiced 
law,  and  possessed  that  valuable  property  called  Alexander's 
Island,  above  Alexandria.  Mrs.  Alexander  died  without 
issue. 

Mrs.  Thomas'  eldest  brother,  Alexander  Contee  Hanson, 
studied  law,  after,  serving  in  the  army,  as  one  of  General 
Washington's  Secretaries,  from  which  ill  health  obliged  him 
to  retire.  He  served  as  one  of  the  Judges  of  the  General 
Court  of  Maryland,  and  afterwards  as  Chancellor,  which  of- 
fice he  held  at  the  time  of  his  decease.  Her  second  brother, 
Dr.  Samuel  Hanson,  who  studied  under  Philip  Thomas,  died 
after  serving  one  campaign  as  Surgeon  of  General  Wash- 
ington's Guards,  and  was  at  the  battle  of  Monmouth.  Her 
third  and  youngest  brother,  Peter  Contee  Hanson,  at  the 
age  of  19,  served  as  1st  Lieutenant  in  Captain  Thos.  Beall's 
Company,  in  Rawlin's  Battalion  of  Riflemen;  General  Otho 
H.  Williams,  then  Major,  which  distinguished  itself  so  glo- 
riously, though  unfortunately,  at  Fort  Washington,  where 
Lieutenant  Hanson,  bravely  fighting,  was  shot  through  the 
lungs,  and  after  languishing  in  a  cold  out-house,  a  prisoner, 
expired  a  few  days  aftenvards. 

Mr.  John  Farrell,  half-brother  to  Dr.  Philip  Thomas,  died 
at  Fredericktown,  on  Wednesday,  18th  November,  2  o'clock, 
P.  M.j  1 8 12,  age  about  81  years,  having  lost  his  wife  and 
five  children,  all  he  had.  He  had  lived  with  Philip  Thomas 
the  last  twenty-five  years  of  his  life. 

I  commenced  the  practice  of  Physic  and  Surgery,  in  Fred- 
ericktown, on  1st  August,  1769;  after  studying  four  years 
under  Dr.  Thomas  Vandyke,  whose  talent  and  virtues  were 
4 


26 

of  sterling  worth,  and  whose  instruction  and  knowledge, 
with  kindness  to  me,  are  remembered  with  grateful  respect. 

I  also  attended  the  professional  lectures,  and  the  hospital, 
and  a  bettering  house  in  Philadelphia,  under  Professors  Bond, 
Shippen  and  Morgan,  from  whom  I  obtained  certificates  too 
flattering  approbatory,  to  induce  me  to  stay  the  next  season, 
long  enough  to  obtain  a  formal  deploma,  as  the  small  patri- 
mony left  me  by  my  father  required  economy.  At  the  same 
time  while  attending  the  medical,  I  attended  Dr.  Smith's 
Lectures  on  Natural  and  Experimental  Philosophy,  and  ma- 
triculated in  the  College. 

Signed,    PHILIP  THOMAS. 

Christmas  Day,  1812. 


The  following  account  of  the  Colston  family  and  its 
branches  was  written  by  Rawleigh  Colston,  of  Honeywood, 
in  the  Family  Bible,  which  is  now  in  the  possession  of  his 
son,  Rawleigh  Traverse  Colston  of  Virginia  : 


As  my  children  may  desire  to  receive  some  information 
respecting  their  ancestors  since  their  emigration  to  Virginia, 
I  will  here  give  them  such  as  I  received  when  I  was  a  young 
man,  about  the  year  1768  or  69:  — 

I  resided  in  the  County  of  Richmond,  near  an  aged  rela- 
tion, the  lady  of  Colonel  John  Smith  ;  her  maiden  name  was 
Colston.  She  informed  me,  that  the  first  of  that  name  and 
family  who  emigrated  to  this  Country,  was  William,  who  had 
been  bred  to  the  profession  of  the  law,  and  was  the  Clerk  of 
Rappahannock  County — which  I  believe  comprehended  the 
Counties  now  called  Essex  and  Middlesex,  on  the  south 
side  of  the  river,  and  those  of  Richmond,  Lancaster,  and 
Northumberland  on  the  north  side. 


2; 


I  have,  seen  some  of  the  record  books  of  his  office,  which 
impressed  me  with  an  opinion,  that  he  was  well  versed  in  his 
profession.  This  gentleman,  Mrs.  Smith  informed  me,  was 
the  brother  of  Edward  Colston,  of  the  City  of  Bristol,  in 
Old  England,  who  devoted  a  large  fortune  to  charities,  such 
as  building  and  endowing  Aims-Houses,  Hospitals,  and 
Charity-Schools  ;  two  of  which  for  the  maintenance  and  ed- 
ucation of  forty  youths  of  both  sexes,  .were  established  in 
Bristol,  the  place  of  his  nativity. 

The  scholars  of  this  Institution  are  always  dressed  in  blue 
clothes,  from  whence  it  took  the  name,  "  Blue  Coat  School," 
or  "  Hospital."  They  wear  a  silver  medal,  engraved  with 
his  Arms.  (One  of  which  is  in  the  possession  of  Douglas  H. 
Thomas,  who  obtained  it  in  Bristol,  through  the  kindness  of 
his  sister  ;  who  was  there  in  1873,  and  had  the  pleasure  of 
viewing  the  various  charities  mentioned.) 

I  have  seen  in  this  Country  several  highly  respectable  gen- 
tlemen who  were  indebted  for  their  maintenance  and  educa- 
tion, to  this  Institution  ;  which  has,  no  doubt,  contributed 
to  the  happiness  of  thousands,  who  have  been  snatched  from 
poverty,  ignorance  and  vice.  He  was  born  1636,  I  think 
in  the  month  of  November,  died  on  his  birthday  in  1721. 
His  remains  are  deposited  in  "  All  Saints  Church,"  in  Bris- 
tol, where  a  sermon  is  annually  preached  in  honor  of  his 
memory,  accompanied  by  the  solemn  sound  of  muffled 
bells.  Mention  is  made  of  him  in  a  work  entitled/'  A  Tour 
through  England,"  and  in  the  u  Biographical  Dictionary." 

Mrs.  Smith  showed  me  a  Copper  plate  picture  of  this  gen- 
tlemen, elegently  framed,  to  which  was  annexed  his  charac- 
ter, and  his  various  charities,  printed  in  letters  of  gold — to 
show  the  respect  in  which  he  was  held  in  his  native  city. 

To  return  to  William  Colston,  the  first  immigrant,  and 
Clerk  of  Rappahannock.    Mrs.  Smith  informed  me,  he  had 


28 


a  son  named  William,  and,  as  well  as  I  can  recollect,  some 
daughters.  This  last  named  William,  had  two  sons,  William 
and  Charles  ;  and,  I  believe,  some  daughters.  William  was 
the  father  of  Mrs.  Smith,  and  Charles  was  my  grand-father. 
Charles  intermarried  with  Mrs.  Susan  Traverse,  daughter  of 
Samuel  Traverse,  (or  William,)  and  Winefred  his  wife,  who, 
I  believe,  emigrated  from  England.  The  issue  of  this  mar- 
riage was  :  Traverse,  my  father,  and  Susanna,  who  married  a 
gentleman  by  the  name  of  Eustice,  and  died  without  issue. 

Traverse,  my  father,  married  for  his  first  wife,  Miss  Alice 
Corbin  Griffin,  the  daughter  of  Colonel  Thomas  Griffin,  of 
Richmond  County,  by  whom  he  had  issue  :  Charles,  and 
Elizabeth  Griffin.  Charles  intermarried  with  Miss  Ann 
Fauntleroy,  the  daughter  of  Griffin  Fauntleroy,  of  Cherry 
Point,  in  Northumberland  County,  by  whom  he  had  issue  : 
Judith  Susan,  and  Alice  Griffin. 

Judith  married  William  Grayham,  by  whom  she  had  a  son 
named  Charles,  who  died  under  age,  and  four  daughters : 
Nancy,  Fannie,  Alice  and  Sally. 

Alice  Griffin  Colston  married  Richard  Beall,  by  whom  she 
had  several  children  ;  one  of  whom  married  Mr.  Peyton  of 
London. 

Elizabeth  Griffin  Colston,  sister  of  Charles,  and  my  half- 
sister,  intermarried  with  Colonel  William  Peachy  of  Rich- 
mond County,  by  whom  she  had  issue  :  Susanna,  the  wife  of 
Mr.  John  Nicholson,  Merchant  of  Baltimore,  by  whom  she 
had  several  children  ;  William  Traverse,  the  father  of  Eliza- 
beth Griffin,  now  living  in  my  family  ;  Susan,  William  and 
Thomas,  living  with  Mrs.  Nicholson. 

Traverse,  my  father,  married  a  second  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Susanna  Opie,  then  the  widow  of  a  Mr.  Kenner, 
and  the  mother  of  Colonel  Rodham  Kenner,  of  Kennerly, 
Northumberland  County,  and  one  of  the  best  of  men.  By 
f     this  lady  my  father  had  the  following  children  : 


29 


Traverse,  who  died  under  age  ;  William,  Rawleigh,  and 
Samuel,  who  was  a  Captain  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  and 
died  unmarried  ;  Willian  intermarried  with  Miss  Lucy  Car- 
ter, the  daughter  of  Colonel  Landon  Carter,  of  Sabine  Hall, 
in  the  County  of  Richmond  ;  by  whom  he  had  issue  :  Wil- 
liam Traverse,  who  had  several  children,  and  now  resides  in 
the  County  of  Frederick  ;  Elizabeth,  who  married  a  Dr.  Hall, 
now  living  in  the  town  of  Falmouth;  and  Susanna,  who 
married  Mr.  Turner. 

Rawleigh  Colston  intermarried  with  Miss  Elizabeth  Mar- 
shall, the  daughter  of  Colonel  Thomas  Marshall,  who  re- 
sided in  Fauquier  County,  but  removed  to  Kentucky.  By 
her  he  had  the  following  children  :  Edward,  named  after 
Edward  Colston,  of  Bristol,  whose  memory  I  highly  respect 
for  his  many  charitable  works  ;  Mary  Isham,  the  wife  of 
John  Hanson  Thomas,  of  Fredericktown,  Maryland  ;  Su- 
sanna, Thomas  Marshall,  Rawleigh  Traverse,  Lucy  Ann, 
and  John  James  Marshall  Colston. 

The  family  of  Colston,  (on  the  Maternal  side,)  written  by 
the  same  as  above. 


The  first  emigrants  from  England  were  Samuel  or  William 
Traverse,  and  Winefred,  his  wife,  who  had  issue  :  William 
Samuel  and  Rawleigh;  and,  I  believe,  four  daughters :  Su- 
sannah, my  grand-mother ;  one  married  a  Mr.  Beall ;  one 
married  a  Mr.  Tarpley ;  and  one  married  Daniel  Hornby,  of 
Hornby's  Manor,  in  the  County  of  Richmond,  who  having 
no  issue  or  relatives  in  this  Country,  bequeathed  his  estate 
to  William  and  Rawleigh  Colston  ;  but  the  law  of  entail 
being  abolished  in  the  Revolution,  it  descended,  in  fee,  to 
the  family  of  William. 


3o 


I  believe  William  Traverse,  the  son,  was  Speaker  of  the 
House  of  Burgesses,  and  settled  in  Jamestown.  There  is 
still  a  family  there  of  that  name,  and  I  suppose  his  posterity. 
Samuel  and  Rawleigh,  I  believe,  died  without  issue. 

I  am  inclined  to  think,  that  William  Colston,  the  first  im- 
migrant, was  born  about  the  year  1618,  and  came  to  this 
Country  about  1640,  and  was  Clerk  of  Rappahannock  about 
1645  ;  that  William,  his  son,  was  born  about  1665  ;  that  Wil- 
liam and  Charles,  his  sons,  about  1688  and  1690  ;  Traverse, 
the  son  of  Charles,  about  171 2  ;  Charles,  the  son  of  Traverse, 
my  half-brother,  about  the  year  1736,  and  myself,  on  the 
10th  May,  1749. 

My  father,  I  suppose,  died  about  the  year  1752.  His  will, 
as  well  as  that  of  his  father,  I  believe,  are  recorded  in  the 
County  of  Northumberland.  I  think  it  probable  that  my 
grand-father,  Traverse,  was  born  about  the  year  1665  ;  my 
grand-mother,  about  the  year  1690;  at  what  period  they 
emigrated,  I  know  not.  I  find  from  the  records  in  the  Land 
Office,  that  a  grant  was  issued  to  Samuel  Traverse  for  land 
in  Northumberland  County  in  1690.  I  think  it  probable  my 
grand-father,  William  or  Samuel,  (I  am  not  certain  as  to  the 
Christian  name,)  came  to  this  Country  between  1685  and 
1690.  If  this  conjecture  be  correct,  the  family  of  Colston 
has  been  in  this  Country  about  170  to  ^72  years;  that  of 
Traverse,  from  127  to  132  years. 

Signed,    RAWLEIGH  COLSTON. 

Honeywood,  March  24th,  181 2. 


Incidents  in  the  life  of  Rawleigh  Colston,  of  Honeywood, 
as  related  by  him  : 


31 

Supposing  it  will  be  agreeable  to  my  children,  to  be  made 
acquainted  with  some  few  particulars  of  my  life,  I  have 
thought  proper  to  state  as  follows  :  — 

I  was  born  on  ioth  May,  1749.,  at  "  Exeter  Lodge,"  the 
seat  of  my  father,  on  Yocomico  river,  in  the  County  of 
Northumberland,  in  Virginia.  Nature  bestowed  on  me  a 
sound  and  vigorous  constitution,  which  was  strengthened  by 
the  active  pursuits  of  my  youth.  Perhaps  few  persons  ever 
had  a  more  early  recollection  of  events  :  I  think  I  can  ven- 
ture to  affirm,  that  I  still  retain  a  pretty  perfect  recollection 
of  certain  circumstances  which  took  place  before  I  was  two 
years  old,  which  I  ascertain  in  this  way :  my  father  had  is- 
sue by  my  mother  four  sons,  in  the  following  order :  Traverse, 
William,  Rawleigh  and  Samuel.  From  the  register  of  our 
births,  it  appears  there  were  about  two  years  between  our 
births.  My  mother  died  in  child-birth,  with  Samuel,  con- 
sequently I  was  not  more  than  two  years  old  at  my  mother's 
death.  I  well  recollect  travelling  in  a  carriage  with  my 
father  and  mother,  and  that  she  wore  stone  or  paste  shoe- 
buckles.  I  also  recollect  my  fathers  purchasing  some  Dutch, 
toys  for  our  amusement.  He  presented  William  with  a 
coach  and  horses,  and  myself  with  a  trumpet  and  drum. 
The  coach  was  attached  to  a  cat,  which  was  turned  loose  in 
a  spacious  passage  for  our  amusement,  but  making  its  escape, 
and  attempting  to  pass  through  the  grafing  of  a  cellar  win- 
dow, demolished  the  coach.  The  drum  and  trumpet,  which 
I  remember  stained  my  lips  with  yellow  and  red  paint,  were 
now  transferred  to  William.  Shortly  after  this  my  mother 
died,  and  the  family  was  removed  from  "  Exeter  Lodge,"  to 
"  Hornby  Manor,"  on  Rappahannock  river,  an  estate  which 
had  been  bequeathed  by  our  good  old  Uncle,  Daniel  Hornby, 
to  William  and  myself :  Samuel  not  being  born  at  the  time 
of  the  bequest.    After  our  removal  to  the  estate,  I  recol- 


32 


lect  a  variety  of  circumstances  not  worth  relating,  but  which 
are  strongly  impressed  on  my  mind  at  this  moment. 

My  father  died  at  "  Hornby's  Manor,"  I  think  in  1752  or 
53  ;  if  so,  I  was  not  more  than  3  or  4  years  old  when  he  died. 
I  perfectly  well  recollect  seeing  my  father's  corpse  ;  that  I 
was  in  pelly-coats,  or  what  was  called  a  Bangan,  made  of 
Scotch  tartan  plaid.  I  recollect  my  father  frequently  rode 
me  out  before  him  on  a  pillow,  and  made  the  servant  who 
attended  me,  carry  his  gun  to  shoot  squirrels  and  crows, 
the  scalps  of  which  were  paid  in  discharge  of  taxes,  as  I  have 
understood.  After  the  death  of  my  father,  William  and 
myself  were  sent  to  live  with  Charles  Beall,  Esquire,  one  of 
the  guardians  appointed  by  my  father,  in  conjunction  with 
Major  Traverse  Tarpley. 

A  Scotch  gentleman,  by  the  name  of  Richardson,  was 
employed  as  our  tutor.  He  was  a  most  excellent  man,  and 
one  of  the  Missionaries  of  the  Scotch  Society  for  propaga- 
ting the  Gospel  in  America,  he  distributed  a  great  number  of 
religious  books  among  the  poor,  and  instructed  their  chil- 
dren on  Holy  Days.  This  good  man  taught  me  to  read  and 
write,  and  carried  me  as  far  as  Eutropius  in  Latin.  He 
made  me  read  the  Scriptures,  and  catechised  me  through  the 
principal  parts.  He  was  very  attentive  to  my  moral  conduct, 
and  impressed  me  with  a  religious  sentiment,  which  I  have 
never  forgotten.  I  am  thoroughly  convinced,  from  experi- 
ence and  observation,  through  a  pretty  long  life,  that  parents 
cannot  commence  too  early,  with  the  religious  and  moral  ed- 
ucation of  their  children. 

At  the  age  of  fourteen  I  was  considered  a  pretty  good 
Latin  Scholar  for  my  age  and  opportunities.  My  guardian, 
Major  Traverse  Tarpley.  now  put  me  an  apprentice  to  his 
brother,  James,  who  was  a  member  of  an  extensive  business 
house  in  the  City  of  Williamsburg,  under  the  firm  of  Tarp- 


33 


ley,  Thompson  &  Co.,  the  principal  partners  of  which  re- 
sided in  Bristol,  Old  England.  Here  I  remained  between 
two  and  three  years,  acquiring  but  little  knowledge  in  the 
line  of  my  business. 

My  principal  friends  were  the  students  of  William  and 
Mary  College,  most  of  whom  were,  at  the  time,  much  more 
celebrated  for  their  vices  than  their  literary  acquirements. 
I  frequently  fell  into  the  dissipated  habits  of  my  compan- 
ions ;  I  read  none,  my  mind  was  a  blank,  and  no  enquiry 
was  made  into  my  conduct  by  my  guardian. 

The  concern  of  Tarpley,  Thompson  &  Co.,  being  dissolved 
by  the  death  of  Tarpley,  I  now  returned  to  my  guardian,  re- 
siding in  Richmond  County.  He  was  very  indulgent,  and  I 
was  provided  with  a  good  horse,  and  went  and  came,  when 
and  where  I  pleased.  After  pursuing  this  idle  dissipated 
life  for  twelve  or  eighteen  months,  I  became  perfectly  dis- 
gusted with  an  idle  life,  and  determined  to  apply  myself. 

There  was  a  gentleman  in  the  neighborhood,  who  married 
a  relative  of  mine.  He  was  a  man  of  sense  and  I  boarded 
myself  with  him.  After  pretty  close  reading  for  twelve  or 
fifteen  months,  I  determined  upon  the  study  of  Law. 
For  this  purpose  I  returned  to  Williamsburg,  and  placed 
myself  under  the  patronage  of  George  Wythe,  Esquire,  to 
whom  I  was  introduced  and  recommended  by  the  Honor- 
able John  Tayloe,  and  Prisby  Thornton,  the  juvenile  friends 
of  my  father. 

I  studied  with  great  attention  for  three  years,  and  having 
obtained  a  license,  I  commenced  practice  in  Richmond  and 
Northumberland  Counties,  but  having  to  contend  with  three 
or  four  old  practitioners,  I  got  but  little  business — the  fees 
were  too  small  to  engage  an  active  mind,  so  I  became  dis- 
gusted with  practice  in  a  short  time.  An  opportunity  was 
afforded  me  of  quitting  the  practice  without  reproach — the 
5 


34 


Revolution  commenced,  and  the  Courts  were  shut  up.  With 
a  view  to  meeting  the  event,  I  sold  my  patrimonial  estate, 
and  intended  to  enter  the  army,  but  having  sold  on  credit, 
considerable  portion  of  my  property  was  lost  by  depreciation. 

The  dispute  between  Great  Britain  and  the  Colonies  hav- 
ing been  fully  discussed,  the  minds  of  all  men  were  prepared 
to  refer  it  to  the  "  Ultima  ratio  regnum."  The  young  men 
formed  themselves  into  Independent  Companies,  were  well 
armed,  uniformed,  and  pretty  well  diciplined,  at  their  own 
expense.  The  Immortal  Washington  was  the  avowed  Pa- 
tron of  the  one  to  which  I  appertained.  It  was  expected 
that  those  young  men,  who  had  been  most  prominent  in 
preparation,  would  fill  the  first  appointments  in  the  Army. 

Being  appointed  by  the  Committee  of  Safety  to  proceed 
to  Philadelphia,  for  the  purchase  of  military  accoutrements, 
I  was  absent  the  early  part  of  the  time,  when  Officers  were 
named  for  the  six  new  regiments,  and  although  on  the  list 
of  candidates  for  Lieutenant  Colonel,  my  opponents,  who 
were  present,  obtained  a  preference.  Determined  not  to  re- 
main an  idle  spectator,  I  received  the  appointment  of  Com- 
mercial Agent  for  the  purpose  of  collecting  military  stores, 
from  abroad,  and  for  this  purpose,  settled  at  Cape  Francois,  in 
St.  Domingo,  and  was  connected  with  a  house  in  Curocoa, 
where  I  sometimes  resided.  I  returned  to  my  native  country 
in  June,  1784,  after  having  acquired  an  easy  fortune.  From 
that  period  until  October,  1785,  I  resided  in  the  City  of  Rich- 
mond, where  I  married  and  returned  to  the  County  of  Fred- 
erick, and  became  a  farmer.  In  1801  I  removed  to  the 
county  of  Berkeley,  and  established  myself  at  :'Honeywood," 
on  the  banks  of  the  Potomac. 


Signed,    RAWLEIGH  COLSTON. 


George  Lynn  Lachlan  Davis,  Esq.,  was  employed  by  my 
father  to  search  out  the  early  history  of  the  Hansons  and 
Contees,  from  the  wills  in  the  custody  of  the  Register  of 
Anne  Arundel  Count}',  with  the  following  result  : 

Baltimore  Bar  Library, 

December  27th,  1865. 
Dr.  John  Hanson  Thomas.  Baltimore. 

My  dear  sir: — At  a  season  distinguished  for  cordial 
congratulations,  and  the  most  friendly  sentiments  of  regard, 
when  also  man}*  of  us  cherish  with  more  than  usual  interest 
everything  which  relates  to  the  memory  of  our  forefathers, 
you  will  allow  me  to  offer  you  this  little  memorial  of  your 
ancestry,  on  the  side  of  the  early  Hansons  and  Contees, 
embodying  the  result  of  researches  many  years  ago,  with 
some  additions  made  during  a  recent  investigation  at  An- 
napolis in  regard  to  another  subject. 

The  provincial  history  of  man}-  families  can  now  be  barely 
traced  through  the  medium  only  of  their  early  land  titles, 
and  most  of  the  succeeding  facts  relating  to  the  honorable 
family  of  Hanson,  are  derived  from  the  old  Rent  Rolls  of 
the  Land  Office,  and  from  the  tracts  named  in  the  wills, 
which  were  once  preserved  among  the  records  of  the  Pre- 
rogative Court  of  the  Province,  but  are  now  kept  by  the 
Register  of  Wills  for  Anne  Arundel  Count}*. 

I  have  carefully  examined  all  the  wills  in  the  Register's 
office,  over  the  signature  of  Hanson,  without  reference  to 
any  particular  family,  from  1750  up  to  the  year  1634:  and 
it  may  interest  you  to  know  that  the  earliest  ancestor  of 
whom  there  is  any  trace,  the  grand-father  of  the  President 
of  the  Continental  Congress,  bore»the  honored  name  of  John. 
In  his  Will,  which  is  dated  the  12th  day  of  December,  171 3, 
(old  style)  he  is  styled  "a  planter"  of  Charles  County.  Your 


36 


ancestor,  Alexander  Contee,  was  one  of  the  witnesses  to  the 
paper.  It  would  seem  that  the  Testator  of  171 3  had  seven 
children  :  Robert,  John,  Samuel,  Benjamin,  Mary,  Ann  and 
Sarah.  It  would  also  appear  that  he  had  provided  for  most 
of  them  before  the  date  of  his  Will.  He  also  mentions  his 
son-in-law,  the  Rev.  Wm.  Maconchie,  the  husband  of  Mary, 
and  his  grandson,  Samuel  Hanson. 

He  bequeaths  a  large  number  of  feather-beds,  an  article  of 
luxury  at  that  period.  His  home  plantation  is  given  to  his 
son  Robert,  who  was  probably  his  oldest  son.  It  was  either 
adjacent  to  "  Betty's  Delight,"  or  it  included  that  tract. 
The  latter  is  described  in  Rent  Rolls  of  Charles  County,  as 
beginning  "  at  a  bounded  oak,  standing  on  the  west  side  of 
Port  Tobacco  Creek,  near  the  main  road."  This  plantation, 
including  "  Betty's  Delight,"  was  devised  by  his  son  Robert 
to  Robert,  the  grandson  to  John  Hanson,  testator  of  171 3  ; 
who  had  also  in  1746  a  great  grandson  named  Robert.  (See 
Will  of  John  Hanson,  1713,  Lib.  U.  W.  B.,  No.  5,  p.  719. 
Robert  Hanson,  1746,  Lib.  D.  D.,  No.  4,  p.  412.) 

The  Will  of  Samuel  Hanson,  whom  I  take  to  be  the  son 
of  the  preceding  John,  and  father  to  the  President  of  the 
Continental  Congress,  is  dated  (see  Lib.  D.  D.,  No.  1,  p. 
296,)  in  the  year  1740.  In  1734,  O.  S.,  (see  Lib.  T.  D.,  p. 
271,)  he,  or  another  person  of  the  same  name,  wTas  the  Com- 
missary for  Charles  County,  an  officer  held  at  that  period  in 
much  esteem.  In  1739,  (see  Lib.  D.  D.,  No.  1,  p.  348,)  he 
was  undoubtedly  clerk  of  that  County,  an  officer  of  the 
highest  consideration. 

A  mourning  ring  was  bequeathed  to  him  during  that  year 
by  Alexander  Contee,  witness  to  the  Will  of  the  preceding 
John  Hanson,  and  one  of  your  ancestors  also,  on  the  side  of 
your  great  grand-mother  Hanson.  (See  the  last  named  Liber.) 
One  of  the  witnesses  to  the  Will  of  Samuel  Hanson,  was  the 


37 


Rev.  Theophilus  Swift.  The  testator  of  1740  names  his 
sons,  Walter,  probably  the  oldest,  and  for  whom  it  seems  he 
had  elsewhere  provided,  John  and  William,  who  seems  to 
have  been  the  youngest,  his  daughters  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
Benjamin  Douglas,  Charity,  Jane,  and  Chloe,  and  his  wife 
Elizabeth.  To  his  son  Samuel  he  gives  a  "  Part  of  Green's 
Inheritance,"  and  a  "  Part  of  the  addition  to  Hereford  "  to 
his  son  John  ;  "  Hereford,"  and  the  remaining  part  of  "  The 
Addition,"  to  his  wife  Elizabeth;  a  life  estate  in  the  home 
plantation,  with  the  fee  simple  to  his  son  William  :  at  all 
events,  an  estate  in  remainder.  He  also  gives  his  wife  a  life- 
estate  in  his  water  mill.  The  home  estate  of  this  ancestor 
was  called  "  Littleworth,"  and  was  adjacent  to  one  of  his 
other  tracts  called  "  Wilkenson's  Throne,"  given  also  to  his 
wife  for  the  period  of  her  own  life  ;  the  latter  having  been 
re-surveyed  (see  Rent  Rolls  of  Charles  County,)  in  1734  for 
Samuel  Hanson  and  Eleanor  Wilkenson. 

About  the  period  of  Samuel  Hanson's  death,  his  son 
Walter  was  the  Commissary  for  Charles  County  ;  Walter  is 
also  mentioned  in  terms  of  great  respect  by  Uncle  Robert, 
the  testator  1746,  who  calls  him  his  "nephew  Walter  Hanson." 

John  Hanson,  the  son  of  the  testator,  1740,  probably  his 
second  son,  and  at  that  period,  if  I  may  judge  from  your 
own  family  Record,  about  twenty-five  years  of  age,  was  un- 
doubtedly the  same  person  as  the  subsequent  President  of 
Continental  Congress,  and  your  great  grand-father  on  your 
grand-mother  Thomas'  side ;  but  it  is  not  my  design  to 
state  the  degrees  of  relationship,  or  sketch  the  lives  of  emi- 
nent representatives  of  the  family  during  his  generation — 
and  of  still  lat'er  periods — including  the  Judge  of  a  State 
Court,  a  Chancellor  of  Maryland,  a  member  of  the  United 
States  Senate,  and  your  own  honored  father,  in  my  poor 
judgment,  the  most  gifted  of  them  all. 


38 


I  have  simply  attempted  to  throw  some  little  light  upon 
the  history  of  your  earliest  ancestors,  who  were  Colonists  in 
the  Province  of  Maryland. 

Of  the  supposed  descent  on  the  side  of  the  Contees  from 
a  Prince  of  France,  I  say  nothing  whatever,  as  I  am  not  ac- 
quainted with  the  genealogical  Archives  of  that  country. 
But  certain  it  is,  that  the  early  Contees  of  Maryland  were 
of  a  highly  honorable  origin. 

The  Will  of  Alexander  Contee,  the  father  of  your  great 
grand-mother  Hanson,  is  dated  in  1739  and  proved  in  1741. 
At  the  period  of  its  date  he  was  the  Clerk  of  Prince  George's 
County.  The  Will  is  a  very  interesting  document.  (See 
Lib.  D.  D.,  No.  1,  p.  347.)  It  is  also  remarkable  for  the 
beauty  of  its  style,  and  for  the  strongly  marked  individu- 
ality of  the  testator.  A  very  large  quantity  of  silver  plate  is 
bequeathed,  including  a  "  silver  punch  bowl."  Mention  is 
also  made  of  a  vineyard.  The  testator  disposes  also  of  a 
very  extensive  real  and  personal  estate,  including  "negroes," 
and  many  pounds  sterling;  mentions  John,  Peter,  Jane,  and 
several  other  of  his  children.  Devises  to  Jane,  his  daughter, 
a  tract  in  Baltimore  County,  called  "  Buck's  Range  ;"  be- 
queathes mourning  rings  of  one  guinea's  value,  and  with  the 
inscription,  "  Remember  A.  Contee,"  to  Daniel  Dulany,  a 
great  lawyer,  Edmund  Jennings,  another  eminent  lawyer  of 
the  Provincial  Bar,  Philip  Key,  ancestor  of  the  late  Francis 
Scott  Key,  and  other  intimate  friends  ;  desires  to  be  buried 
according  to  the  service  of  the  English  Church,  and  gives  a 
guinea  respectively  to  the  Rector  of  St.  Paul's,  in  Prince 
George's,  and  Port  Tobacco  Parish,  in  Charles  County,  with 
the  request  of  them  to  preach  a  funeral  sermon  on  "  Ye  folly 
and  Danger  of  ye  DeatJi-bedmRepeniance" 

It  seems  from  the  Will  of  the  Honorable  Colonel  John 
Contee,  a  member  of  the  Council  of  State,  and  who  was 


39 

closely  connected  with  the  family  of  Governor  Seymour,  as 
well  as  with  the  Honorable  Philip  Lynes,  that  Alexander 
Contee  was  the  nephew  of  the  Councillor,  and  the  son  of 
Peter  Contee,  of  Barnstable,  Devonshire,  England.  (See  • 
will  of  the  Hon.  Col.  John  Contee,  and  the  accompanying 
deposition  in  Lib.  I.  C.  W.  B.,  No.  2,  1706  to  1709.)  Alex- 
ander, your  lineal  ancestor,  was  at  the  date  of  his  uncle's 
death,  about  seventeen  years  of  age.  The  Will  of  the  uncle 
throws  so  much  light  upon  the  state  of  Society  at  that 
period,  and  is  so  interesting  in  other  respects,  that  I  will 
venture  to  add  the  following  memoranda :  If  we  compare 
the  fortunes  of  that  period  with  those  of  the  present,  we 
must  infer  that  he  was  extremely  wealthy.  He  disposes  of 
vast  bodies  of  land,  and  many  rather  small  ones  ;  but  for 
nothing  is  the  Will  more  remarkable  than  for  the  tender  affec- 
tion which  it  breathes  for  his  relations  and  friends.  He  de- 
vises lands  in  Maryland  to  his  brother  Peter  Contee,  of 
Barnstable,  the  father  of  Alexander,  and  to  his  mother,  Mrs. 
Grace  Contee,  the  grand-mother  of  Alexander.  He  gives 
twrenty  thousand  pounds  of  tob  acco  m  ca  sk,  then  a  part  of 
the  currency  of  the  Province,  for  the  use  of  the  ministry. 
To  his  dear  and  loving  Mother,  Mrs.  Grace  Contee,  he  be- 
queathes fifty  pounds  sterling  for  the  purchase  of  mourning, 
and  mourning  rings  for  his  relations  and  friends  in  England. 
And  he  gives  valuable  property  to  his  three  step-sons,  called 
sons-in-law  at  that  period,  but  the  children  of  Mrs.  Charity 
Coates,  who  probably  died  before  his  arrival  in  the  Province. 

He  devises  also  to  Mary,  his  last  wife,  several  tracts  of 
land  in  Maryland,  and  to  his  dear  and  loving  wife,  he 
gives  a  large  number  of  negroes,  and  all  that  portion  of  his 
estate  not  otherwise  disposed  of :  such  as  money  in  England, 
tobacco  shipped  in  any  ship  or  ships,  sent  or  to  be  sent,  or 
now  in  ships,  for  any  person  or  persons,  also  debts  due  to 


40 


him  in  England,  Maryland,  Virginia  and  elsewhere,  with 
plate  and  other  household  goods  ;  and  also  English  servants, 
a  term  generally  applied  to  redemptioners,  while  African 
servants  were  invariably  known  under  the  simple  appella- 
tion of  negroes,  there  being  indeed  at  that  period  in  our 
Provincial  history,  comparatively  but  little  African  slavery 
in  Maryland. 

On  the  3rd  of  August,  1708,  the  testator  was  helped  out 
of  the  bed  by  Doct.  Jackson,  the  Hon.  Philip  Lynes,  Mr. 
John  Rogers,  and  Madam  Contee,  and  about  three-quarters 
of  an  hour  afterwards  he  cried  out,  "my  heart  strings  are 
broke,"  and  died  suddenly  upon  the  seat,  in  the  arms  of 
Doct.  Jackson,  and  of  his  cousin,  the  Hon.  Philip  Lynes, 
who  had  drawn  up  the  Will  but  a  few  days  previous.  The 
will  had  also  been  approved  by  the  testator,  but  unfortun- 
ately was  left  without  the  signature,  and  upon  two  occasions 
it  would  appear  the  question  of  validity  was  submitted  to 
the  Legislature.  (See  Bacon's  laws  of  Maryland,  1708,  ch. 
13,  and  1725,  ch.  21.) 

The  will  of  the  Honorable  Philip  Lynes  is  recorded  in 
Lib.  J.  C.  W.  B.,  No.  2,  1706  to  1709.  In  it  he  says:  "  I 
give  to  Madame  Seymour,  ( Madam  Jane  Seymour,  the 
daughter  I  presume  of  the  Governor,^  Mrs.  Mary  Contee, 
my  brother  Capt.  Thomas  Seymour,  and  my  friend  William 
Bladen,  each  ten  pounds  sterling  to  buy  rings  and  mourn- 
ing." In  several  parts  of  the  will  he  calls  Mrs.  Mary  Contee 
his  cousin. 

The  will  of  Govenor  John  Seymour  is  dated  6th  August, 
1709,  and  recorded  in  the  same  Liber.  Judging  from  tradi- 
tion, and  especially  from  two  anecdotes  never  yet  published, 
but  long  since  reduced  to  writing,  and  now  in  my  possession, 
he  was  the  most  haughty  of  all  the  early  and  late  Governors  of 
Maryland.    "I  give  and  bequeathe,"  says  he,  "unto  my  dear 


4i 


cousin,  Mrs.  Mary  Contee,  twenty  guineas  to  buy  her  a 
ring." 

I  have  also  some  extracts  sent  many  years  ago  to  me 
from  the  Parish  Records  of  Barnstable,  from  which  it  ap- 
pears that  Peter  Contee,  the  father  of  Alexander,  was  a 
chirurgeon,  that  the  mother  of  Alexander  was  named  Catha- 
rine, and  that  Alexander  was  baptized  "  ye  22nd  day  of 
April,  1693.'' 

I  have  no  doubt  the  ancestry  of  Peter  Contee  could  now 
be  easily  traced  through  the  medium  of  the  English  Records, 
as  the  greatest  difficulty  in  writing  out  a  pedigree  usually 
consists  in  discovering  the  connecting  links  between  the  old 
and  the  new  world,  and  that  point  has  already  been  attained 
in  the  case  of  the  Contees. 

The  following  memorandum  I  made  from  an  abstract  of 
the  Will  of  Alexander  Contee,  the  Testator  of  1739,  an<^ 
the  father  of  Dr.  John  Hanson  Thomas'  great  grand-mother 
Hanson. 

The  testator  gives  his  son  John  several  negroes,  a  feather- 
bed, bolsters,  pillows,  quilts,  blankets,  sheets,  a  suit  of  cur- 
tains and  valance  with  head-cloth  and  testor,  &c.  Also  his 
silver  punch  bowl,  coroner,  and  large  spoon,  &c. 

To  his  son  Peter,  *various  negroes,  his  three  silver  casters, 
and  eighty  pounds  sterling,  &c. 

To  his  son  Thomas,  one  of  his  casters,  silver  hafted  knives 
and  forks,  and  silver  spoons. 

To  his  son  Alexander,  one  case  of  silver  hafted  knives 
and  forks,  and  silver  spoons,  with  eighty  pound  sterling,  &c. 

To  his  daughter  Catharine,  his  silver  candlesticks  and 
snuffers,  &c. 

To  his  son  John,  all  his  books  of  whatever  sort  soever. 
To  many  of  his  friends,  rings  of  one  guinea's  value  each, 
with  the  inscription,  "  Remember  A.  Contee." 
6 


42 


To  his  daughter  Grace,  his  two  silver  salvers,  a  feather- 
bed, &c. 

I  regret  the  impossibility,  during  Christmas  week,  of  bind- 
ing up  this  naked  manuscript,  and  must  therefore  beg  you 
to  accept  it  in  its  present  condition,  in  the  hope,  however, 
that  you  will  allow  me,  upon  future  occasion,  the  privilege 
of  binding  it  in  some  neat  and  substantial  manner,  but  \ 
somewhat  after  the  style  of  the  antique. 

With  the  kindest  compliments  of  the  season,  and  my  best 
wishes,  at  all  times,  for  your  happiness, 

I  beg  to  remain,  my  dear  Sir,  Your  friend  and  Serv't, 

GEORGE  LYNN  LACHLAN  DAVIS. 


The  following  obituary  notices  of  Dr.  Philip  Thomas  and 
John  Hanson  Thomas  appeared  in  the  "Federal  Republican" 
May  ioth,  1815,  on  which  occasion  the  paper  was  issued  in 
mourning.  It  is  supposed  the  first  Obituary  was  written 
by  Alexander  Contee  Hanson,  Editor. 

A  more  distressing  duty  could  not  devolve  upon  us,  than 
recording  the  death  of  John  Hanson  Thomas,  who  died  at 
Frederick  Town,  Md.,  of  the  prevailing  epidemic,  on  Tues- 
day, the  2nd  of  May,  in  the  36th  year  of  his  age. 

We  are  humbled  by  a  sense  of  our  incompetency  to  do 
justice  to  his  fair  fame  and  exalted  worth.  Had  the  de- 
ceased left  his  equal  among  his  friends  behind  him,  there 
would  have  been  a  master  pen  to  delineate  the  peculiar 
qualities  of  his  mind,  and  describe  the  various  virtues  that 
adorned  his  public  and  private  character.  To  this  faculty, 
and  a  general  knowledge  of  mankind,  derived  from  study,  re- 


43 


flection,  and  personal  observation,  is  to  be  ascribed  his  happy 
selection  of  friends.  In  making  them  the  repository  of  his 
wishes  and  opinions,  he  knew  how  far  each  was  to  be  trusted. 
Among  the  host  of  admirers  and  friends  which  a  bright 
career  of  usefulness  and  dazzling  success  had  drawn  around 
him,  few,  very  few,  were  found  to  deceive  him.  It  is  given 
to  none  to  know  with  certainty  who  may  not  be  impelled  by 
ambition,  jealousy  or  envy  to  abandon  and  betray  a  friend. 

Though  reserved  and  austere  in  his  appearance  to  men 
generally,  among  his  particular  friends  his  unaffected  sim- 
plicity, playfulness  and  pleasantry  were  delightful,  and  were 
the  genuine  effusion  of  good  humor  and  generous  feelings. 
Without  the  slightest  tincture  of  malignity,  there  was  a  spice 
of  caustic  sarcasm  in  his  criticism,  which  gave  a  zest  to  his 
familiar  conversations  so  exquisite  that  opportunities  were 
sought  to  renew  the  gratification  which  few  were  permitted 
to  enjoy.  Indeed,  there  was  a  rivalry  among  his  friends  to 
engage  and  appropriate  him  exclusively  to  themselves. 
Such  was  the  ascendancy  he  acquired  over  the  minds  of  his 
associates,  and  the  fast  hold  he  had  taken  of  their  hearts, 
that  his  will  and  opinion  expressed  their  wishes.  He  ruled 
through  the  affections,  and  when  reasons  were  demanded, 
he  led  the  judgment  captive.  None  distrusted,  while  all  who 
knew  confided  in  him.  It  arose  from  a  perfect  knowledge 
that  he  was  disinterested  and  unambitious.  He  was  for  his 
country  and  his  friends,  never  for  himself.  His  heart  always 
in  his  hand,  was  so  well  known  that  his  raillery,  though  it 
wounded,  never  offended.  But  the  social  gaiety  and  even- 
ness of  temper,  contributed  so  much  to  endear  his  con- 
versation, was  not  combined  with  one  frivolous  or  superficial 
quality.  He  was  gentle  in  his  nature,  but  the  firmness  of 
his  mind  and  the  steadiness  of  his  resolutions  were  not 
weakened  by  the  mildness  of  his  disposition.    In  all  his  prin- 


44 


ciples  and  doctrines,  whether  political,  moral  or  religious, 
he  was  fixed  and  immovable.  In  each  vicissitude,  in  every 
change  of  circumstance, 

"  He  stood  an  iron  pillar  strong 
And  steadfast  as  a  wall  of  brass." 

He  was  brought  to  his  conclusions  by  sober  inquiry  and 
deep  reflection,  and  therefore  clove  to  his  resolution  with  a 
steadiness  and  perseverance  which  opposition  could  not 
shake. 

The  cause  and  circumstances  of  the  death  of  so  beloved 
and  interesting  an  individual  as  Mr.  Thomas  deserve  some 
notice.  The  dreadful  malady  which  exacted  the  last  debt 
of  nature  so  prematurely,  was  contracted  by  the  unwearying 
assiduity  of  his  attentions  to  a  dear  and  most  exalted  father, 
who  died  the  week  preceding.  During  his  sickness,  though 
constantly  tortured  with  the  most  excruciating  pain,  he 
uttered  not  one  repining  word,  but  expressed  an  entire  resig- 
nation in  the  will  of  Heaven,  He  shed  not  a  tear,  nor  dis- 
covered the  least  agitation  or  sign  of  sorrow  by  his  conver-. 
sation,  though  surrounded  by  friends  and  relatives  whose 
feelings  were  not  to  be  commanded,  and  constantly  at- 
tended by  a  loving  and  affectionate  wife,  agonized  with 
grief  and  bearing  in  her  womb  another  pledge  of  conjugal 
affection.  He  once  expressed  a  wish  to  live  another  day  to 
arrange  his  worldly  concerns,  in  which  he  was  gratified,  and 
expired  a  little  before  the  day  closed.  He  once  said,  while 
the  chief  object  of  his  earthly  love  was  weeping  by  his  side, 
"  Don't  do  so  ;  you  put  me  on  the  rack,  and  make  us  both 
act  as  if  we. were  ignorant  of  our  duties."  Appearing  to  be 
restless,  a  near  relative  inquired  of  him,  "if  his  mind  was  un- 
easy." He  replied  quickly,  "  No  ;  I  am  happy,  but  what 
must  be  the  condition  of  the  unhappy  ?  Which  course  do 
you  mean  to  take?  " 


45 


Shortly  afterwards  he  was  asked  whether  he  wanted  any- 
thing. He  answered  in  tones  of  tenderness,  "  I  want  my 
father."  He  then  said  he  was  going,  being  almost  strangled 
by  the  mucus,  which  secreted  too  fast  to  be  thrown  off. 
The  friend  who  held  his  hand,  burst  into  tears  and  said, 
"  You  carry  with  you,  Thomas,  the  hearts  and  happiness  of 
your  friends,  and  are  followed  by  the  tears  and  regrets  of  all 
your  acquaintances." 

Among  his  last  words  there  was  not  given  but  an  expres- 
sion of  his  confidence  in  the  promises  of  God  in  the  most 
tender  and  earnest  manner.  He  gave  to  two  of  his  friends 
the  advice  to  be  expected  from  true  piety  and  Christian 
benevolence.  He  also  exhorted  a  little  niece  to  devote  her 
life  to  good  works  and  the  active  promotion  of  virtue  and  the 
well  being  of  her  fellow  creatures.  Indeed,  on  the  day  of  his 
death,  after  he  had  made  his  will,  and  felt  also  a  perfect  con- 
viction he  had  made  his  peace  with  his  Maker,  his  conduct 
and  conversation  discovered  the  unmixed  goodness  of  his 
heart  and  the  real  greatness  of  his  mind. 

The  circumstances  attending  the  death  of  a  great  and 
good  man,  are  so  interesting  and  instructive,  that  they 
authorize  still  more  minuteness,  if  it  did  not  exceed  the 
limits  of  an  obituary  notice.  We  have  already  been  thus 
particular  in  recording  parts  of  his  conversation,  because  no 
death  can  have  made  a  deeper,  more  lively,  and,  we  hope, 
more  lasting  impression  upon  those  who  witnessed  it.  It 
was  truly  a  scene  of  sorrow  and  affliction,  and  by  drinking 
of  the  spirit  of  the  deceased,  may  those  who  mourn  his  loss, 
improve  the  awful  providence  of  his  sudden  removal.  For 
in  him  was  displayed,  in  his  dying  moments,  that  genuine 
Christian  humility  which  flows  from  a  sense  of  the  love  of 
God,  reconciled  to  man  in  his  beloved  Son  Jesus,  whose 
wounds  for  his  transgressions,  and  bruises  for  his  iniquities, 
purchased  his  redemption. 


46 


We  cannot  omit  to  mention  that  our  brother,  who  has 
thus  died  in  the  lively  hope  of  "  an  inheritance  incorruptible, 
undefiled,  and  that  fadeth  not  away,"  but  a  few  short  days 
before  he  threw  off"  this  mortal  coil  "  to  appear  before  his 
God  in  the  milk-white  robe  of  immortality,  was  engaged  by 
the  side  of  a  dying  father  in  performing  the  last  sad  office  of 
a  minister  of  the  Gospel,  attending  the  sick.  Delay  in  the 
arrival  of  the  minister  sent  for  to  administer  the  sacrament 
to  his  father,  occasioned  uneasiness,  lest  his  intellect  should 
fail  him,  and  it  would  be  too  late  to  partake  with  him  of  the 
Lord's  Holy  Supper.  The  son,  and  victim  of  filial  piety, 
fell  upon  his  knees  by  his  father's  bed-side,  and  in  his  own 
peculiar  style  of  eloquence  and  religious  fervency  of  zeal, 
poured  out  his  soul  in  prayer,  wringing  the  bosoms  of  all 
around  him,  and  soothing  for  a  time  the  bodily  anguish  of 
an  expiring  parent.  A  sudden  flash  of  paternal  love  and 
admiration,  for  a  moment,  lighted  up  the  dying  countenance 
by  kindling  anew  the  recollection  of  an  offspring's  virtues 
and  talents,  that  promised  so  much  usefulness,  but  the 
father  sunk  into  the  arms  of  death,  and  the  son  was  marked 
for  the  same  destiny. 

A  biographer  may  do  public  justice  to  the  public  charac- 
ter of  Mr.  Thomas  which  will  not  now  be  attempted.  In 
an  age  so  eventful,  his  loss  to  his  Country,  and  particularly 
to  his  native  State,  his  friends  will  in  vain  attempt  to  esti- 
mate. They  will  always  remember  with  admiration  and 
gratitude,  the  able,  distinguished,  and  intrepid  part  he  acted 
in  stemming  the  torrent  of  pernicious  theory  and  a  false 
philosophy.  A  magnanimous  and  Christian  charity  would 
hope  that  the  fear,  rancor,  and  hatred  of  his  political  adver- 
saries and  faithless  friends  have  gone  with  him  to  the  tomb. 
Even  party  rancor  and  detraction,  ever  eager  to  devour  the 
living,  disdains  to  decry  the  dead.    It  was  so  with  our  be- 


47 


loved  Hamilton,  and  may  the  same  remorse  of  conscience 
be  felt  for  the  deceased. 

"  Redeem'd  from  earth  and  pain, 
Oh,  when  shall  we  ascend, 
And  all  in  Jesus'  presence  reign 
With  our  translated  friend." 


\From  Fredericktow7i  Herald. ~\ 

Departed  this  life  on  Tuesday  last,  in  the  68th  year  of  his 
age,  Doctor  Philip  Thomas. 

The  various  worthy  and  distinguished  merits  of  this  ven- 
erable and  revered  character,  it  cannot  be  expected,  will  be 
portrayed  in  an  obituary  notice.  He  was  a  native  of  Kent 
County,  but  removed  to  this  place  very  early  in  life.  Ar- 
dently attached  to  liberty  and  his  country,  he  took  a  decided 
and  active  part  in  our  revolutionary  struggle,  and  was  often 
elected  by  his  fellow-citizens  to  represent  them  in  the  public 
councils.  He  was  appointed  by  the  great  and  good  Wash- 
ington to  an  office  under  the  general  government,  which  he 
held  for  a  number  of  years,  and  shortly  after  the  establish- 
ment of  the  Medical  Society  of  Maryland,  he  was  chosen  its 
President,  in  which  situation  he  continued  until  his  death. 
These  several  trusts  he  discharged  with  the  most  strict 
fidelity  and  integrity. 

As  a  physician,  no  man  was  more  highly  and  deservedly  es- 
teemed for  his  skill.  No  man  was  ever  more  beloved  for  his 
affectionate  tenderness  and  unwearied  attention  to  the  sick. 
As  a  member  of  society,  those  who  have  been  most  inti- 
mately acquainted  with  his  principles  and  motives  of  action, 
can  attest  their  purity  and  correctness. 

As  a  man,  and  in  all  the  relative  duties  of  life,  he  was 


48 


a  bright  model  of  excellence,  a  kind  neighbor,  a  warm  stead- 
fast and  immovable  friend,  an  indulgent  master,  a  most 
affectionate  parent,  and  in  all  his  dealings  sternly  and  un- 
deviatingly  just.  In  him  the  poor  had  always  a  friend,  the 
oppressed  found  a  protector,  and  friendless  merit,  a  patron 
and  defender. 

As  a  christian,  his  conviction  of  the  truth  was  the  result 
of  careful  and  candid  examination,  and  was  deep  and  rivetted. 
Fully  persuaded  that  man  was  fallen,  his  nature  corrupt,  and 
that  but  for  the  salvation  purchased  for  us  by  the  merits 
and  sufferings  of  a  crucified  redeemer,  and  the  divine  aid 
graciously  afforded  to  the  believing  penitent  in  working  out 
his  salvation,  his  doom  must  have  been  eternal  misery. 

His  faith  in  all  the  distinguishing  doctrines  of  the  gospel 
was  lively  and  sincere ;  his  hopes  were  founded  on  its 
promises,  and  his  entire  trust  for  salvation  and  happiness 
was  in  the  mercy  of  God  through  the  merits  of  Christ  Jesus. 

He  was,  as  his  ancestors  for  ages  had  been,  and  as  he  has 
often  been  heard  to  express  his  hopes,  that  his  posterity 
might  remain  to  be  members  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church,  warmly  attached  to  its  doctrines,  its  government, 
its  pure  and  evangelical  services.  He  deeply  lamented  the 
many  difficulties  and  disadvantages  with  which  the  religious 
denomination  of  which  he  was  a  member,  had  to  struggle 
in  this  nation  generally,  and  more  especially  in  the  place  of 
his  residence  ;  and  after  witnessing  with  joy,  and  it  is  fondly 
hoped  with  gratitude  to  the  Author  of  all  good,  the  success 
of  many  efforts  for  its  revival,  it  was  the  happiness  of  his 
declining  years  to  have  contributed  in  no  small  degree,  to- 
wards the  erection  and  completion  of  a  convenient  and 
elegant  building  in  which  its  worship  maybe  performed,  and 
the  ordinance  of  our  holy  religion  administered.  But 
although  he  gave  a  decided  preference  to  his  own  church, 


49 


and  anxiously  wished  others  to  agree  with  him,  yet  he  never 
presumed  to  dictate  to  any,  but  desired  to  live,  and  did  live 
in  peace  and  charity  with  all  denominations  of  Christians. 

While  he  was  very  young  he  was  deprived  of  his  father, 
and  to  the  more  than  parental  care  of  a  kind  and  affection- 
ate brother,  he  was  indebted  for  his  education  and  the 
means  of  his  future  usefulness. 

In  the  pursuit  of  his  studies,  and  in  qualifying  himself 
for  the  exercise  of  his  profession,  he  was  obliged  to  exhaust 
the  small  patrimony  which  he  received.  Without  friends, 
and  in  very  delicate  health,  he  left  his  native  county,  and 
with  it  the  few  valuable  friends  which  remained  to  him,  to 
settle  among  strangers.  Of  the  kindness  with  which  he 
was  received  and  treated  by  many  of  them,  it  was  his  de- 
light always  to  speak.  His  professional  merit  soon  pro- 
cured him  an  extensive  practice,  and  although  his  constitu- 
tion frequently  appeared  to  be  entirely  broken,  and  his 
friends  often  feared  that  they  would  soon  be  deprived  of 
him,  yet,  by  a  life  of  most  rigid  temperance  and  self-denial 
and  care,  he  was  enabled  to  persevere  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession,  and  at  the  advanced  age  of  sixty-six,  was  in  the 
enjoyment  of  better  health,  than  in  early  life.  It  has  now 
pleased  Almighty  God  to  take  him  from  us — to  remove  him 
from  this  world  of  affliction  and  trouble — to  rest  from  his 
labors. 

But  few  around  him  have  had  more  of  the  blessings  and 
comforts  of  this  life  ;  but  few  have  partaken  in  a  greater  de- 
gree of  its  bitterest  sufferings ;  but  few  have  been  more  great- 
ful  for  the  blessings  which  a  gracious  providence  has  been 
pleased  to  confer,  or  have  submitted  with  a  more  pious  and 
humble  resignation  to  the  severest  chastisements.  It  will  be 
the  comfort  and  delight  of  his  afflicted  friends  to  remember, 
and  it  will  be  their  duty  to  imitate  his  shining  virtues.  The 
7 


5o 


separation,  though  painful,  is  but  for  a  time.  "In  a  moment, 
in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye,"  those  who  followed  the  remains 
of  the  deceased,  may,  like  him,  be  a  lifeless  corpse.  And 
the  voice  of  the  preacher  was  a  warning  from  Heaven,  even 
to  the  most  young  and  healthful,  and  sounded  in  their 
ears  the  awful  words,  "  Be  ye  also  ready." 

The  remains  of  the  deceased  were,  on  Thursday  evening, 
conveyed  from  his  late  dwelling  to  the  new  Episcopal  Church, 
where  the  services  of  the  Church  were  performed,  and  a  very 
eloquent  and  most  appropriate  discourse  was  delivered  by 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Wyatt,  of  Baltimore.  Afterwards  the  corpse 
was  carried  to  the  burying-ground,  belonging  to  the  congre- 
gation, attended  by  an  unusually  large  concourse  of  friends 
and  citizens. 


[From  Fredericktown  Herald.'] 

In  our  last  paper  the  melancholy  duty  devolved  upon  us 
of  recording  the  death  of  the  late  Dr.  Philip  Thomas. 
Death  has  again  levelled  his  distructive  shaft,  and  made  a 
still  wider  breach  in  the  circle  of  our  society.  It  now  be- 
comes our  mournful  duty  to  notice  the  death  of  John  Han- 
son Thomas,  Esq.,  who  departed  this  life  on  Tuesday,  the 
2d  instant,  in  the  35th  year  of  his  age. 

Born  in  this  town,  and  educated  under  the  direction  of  his  ' 
late  most  excellent  father,  his  memory  will  ever  be  dear  to 
those  who  have  had  the  best  opportunity  of  marking  the 
progress  of  his  virtues  from  his  infancy,  and  to  them  his  loss 
can  never  be  supplied.  In  him  nature  seemed  to  have 
united  the  rarest  qualities.  A  strong  discriminating  mind, 
improved  by  an  excellent  education,  and  deep  reflection,  em- 
inently qualified  him  for  the  pursuits  of  political  life.  The 
over-weaning  influence,  however,  of  pernicious  opinions  in 


I 


51 


this,  his  native  county,  for  a  long  time  confined  him  to  the 
walks  of  private  life,  and  thus  perhaps  conferred  an  invol- 
untary favor  upon  him,  by  giving  him  leisure  for  the  im- 
provement of  his  mind,  until  that  period  of  life,  when 
maturity  of  judgment.,  becoming  united  to  the  activity  of 
youth,  renders  the  politician  doubly  useful.  Modest  and 
unassuming  in  truth,  he  sought  not  of  choice  the  paths  of 
ambition,  but  when  the  wild  career  of  theory  jeopardized 
the  best  interests  of  his  country,  by  the  embargo,  the  ear- 
nest solicitations  of  his  friends  urged  him  forward  to  stem 
the  torrent. 

Firm  and  decisive  in  his  character,  the  stand  he  made  was 
manly,  nay  noble.  The  fondest  anticipations  of  his  friends 
were  surpassed,  and  his  political  adversaries  cowered  beneath 
his  superior  talents.  The  course  which  he  pursued,  in  the 
Legislature  of  this  State,  is  well  known,  and  the  State-papers 
which  have  proceeded  from  his  pen,  are  the  best  documents 
of  the  clearness,  strength  and  precision  of  his  mind.  The 
ineffectual  efforts  which  have  been  made  to  exclude  him 
from  the  Legislature  of  this  State,  whilst  it  speaks  his  worth 
and  the  dread  entertained  of  his  talents,  also  prove  the  in- 
fluence which  eloquence,  talents  and  virtue,  gave  him  over 
the  minds  of  the  people.  On  him  all  eyes  were  fixed  ;  on 
him  the  destiny  of  his  party  seemed  to  hang.  The  influence 
he  acquired  in  Maryland  has  never  been  equalled  by  so 
young  a  man.  The  confidence  of  all  seemed  centred  upon 
him,  because  all  knew  him  virtuous,  and  all  believed  him  un- 
ambitious. His  influence  was  rapidly  extending  over  the 
State,  and  such  were  the  qualities  of  his  heart,  that  few  in- 
stances occur,  of  a  friend  once  made,  forsaking  hirm  Had 
the  Federal  preponderance  continued  in  this  State,  he  would, 
the  next  session  of  the  Legislature,  most  probably  have 


52 

been  placed  in  the  Senate  of  the  United  States,  a  station 
upon  which  his  brilliant  talents  would  have  reflected  lustre, 
but  the  ruthless  hand  of  death  has  taken  him  from  us,  and 
where,  oh  !  where  shall  we  supply  his  loss  ? 

Removed  from  this  career  of  splendid  usefulness,  however, 
it  is  not  for  public  virtues,  great  as  they  were,  for  which  we 
chiefly  lament  him.  He  has  left  a  chasm  in  society  which 
cannot  be  filled.  A  tender  and  affectionate  son,  he  attended 
his  father's  death-bed  with  unwearied  assiduity,  and  when 
an  unfortunate  delay  prevented  the  arrival  of  a  clergyman, 
for  whom  they  had  sent,  fearing  that  his  father  might  not 
preserve  his  faculties  unclouded,  dropping  upon  his  knees 
by  his  bedside,  he  poured  out  his  soul  in  prayer  to  Heaven 
over  his  beloved  parent  in  a  strain  of  eloquence,  which  far 
surpassed  anything  which  those  present  had  ever  conceived 
of  his  highest  powers.  Here  he  contracted  the  same  dis- 
ease, in  which  there  was  the  most  striking  coincidence. 
They  were  siezed  on  the  same  day  of  the  week,  the  symp- 
toms were  the  same  throughout  the  whole  course  of  the 
disease,  and  at  last  death  put  a  period  to  their  sufferings  on 
the  same  day  of  the  week,  and  within  ten  minutes  of  the 
same  hour  of  the  day.  The  death  of  his  father  was.a  severe 
blow  to  him,  but  religion  fortified  his  mind,  and  with  a  con- 
solation only  known  to  the  sincerely  pious,  he  would  have 
been  resigned  because  it  was  the  will  of  God.  Accustomed 
to  reflect  deeply  upon  every  subject,  it  was  impossible  that 
one  so  important  as  religion  should  have  escaped  him.  His 
opinions  an  this  subject  were  deeply  rooted,  and  amounted 
not  to  what  is  usually  called  a  deep  sense  of  religion,  and 
consists  generally  in  nothing  more  than  a  respect  for  the 
opinions  of  mankind,  or  a  belief  in  Christianity,  founded  up- 
on authority  of  a  superficial  enquiry,  but,  having  read  much, 
and  reflected  more,  we  can  with  truth  say,  his  was  a  deep- 


53 


rooted,  heart-felt  sentiment  of  piety.  Educated  by  his 
father  in  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  nothing  tempted 
him  from  his  attention  to  public  worship,  or  his  devotion  to 
his  God.  These  feelings  diffused  themselves  throughout 
his  conduct  and  tempered  all  his  actions.  Hence  flowed 
charity  for  all  whom  he  believed  honestly  to  differ  from  him 
in  every  opinion,  indignation  at  vice,  and  an  ardent  zeal  in 
the  discharge  of  his  duties.  As  a  husband  and  a  father,  the 
delicate  tenderness  of  his  affection,  and  his  quick  perception 
of  the  wishes  and  inclinations  of  those  he  most  loved,  ren- 
dered him  dear.  oh.  inexpressibly  dear,  to  his  family.  The 
mildness  of  his  manners  and  disposition,  united  as  it  was 
with  firmness  and  decision,  nay,  intrepidity  of  character, 
endeared  him  to  most  who  knew  him.  The  warmth  of  his 
affections  drew  from  his  friends  unbounded  confidence  and 
real  love,  while  such  was  his  intuitive  knowledge  of  men 
that  seldom  was  he  deceived  into  a  misplaced  confidence. 
Rare,  indeed,  is  it  to  find  so  much  modesty  and  diffidence 
united  with  so  much  talent  as  he  possessed  ;  but  in  familiar 
intercourse  of  his  friends,  when  the  course  of  conversation 
compelled  him  to  speak  of  himself,  and  to  give  any  credit 
whatever  to  himself,  often  have  we  seen  the  blush  of  mod- 
esty suffuse  his  cheek,  and  hurrying  over  the  subject,  betray 
in  manhood  the  modesty  of  youth.  Upon  his  well-balanced 
soul  the  love  of  praise  excited  only  to  duty,  and  preserved 
him  in  the  paths  of  virtue,  whilst  the  court  and  compliments 
universally  paid  him,  could  never  excite  vanity  to  his  unas- 
suming mind.  Sprightliness  and  delicate  wit  pre-eminently 
distinguished  his  conversation  with  his  more  intimate  friends, 
but  his  unassuming  manners  and  character  always  retreated 
from  particular  observation,  and  to  the  superficial  observer, 
who  marked  not  the  rapid  changes  of  his  expressive  counte- 
nance, or  the  vivid  flashes  of  his  eye,  he  always  made  the 


54 

impression  of  a  man  either  over-rated,  of  whose  mind  ranged 
not  beyond  the  sphere  of  politics,  whilst  those  who  knew 
him,  always  considered  the  reputation  he  possessed  far 
below  his  real  worth.  It  was  in  the  last  moments  of  his 
life,  however — in  the  last  trying  scene— when  mortality  is 
about  to  pay  its  last  debt  to  immortality ;  when  man,  about 
to  resign  all  his  earthly  prospects,  depends  only  upon  that 
treasure  which  he  had  laid  up  in  Heaven  ;  that  his  afflicted 
friends  find  consolation,  nay,  cause  of  triumph. 

His  sufferings,  from  the  very  commencement  of  his  ill- 
ness until  a  few  hours  before  his  death,  were  indeed  great  ; 
but  borne  with  uncommon  fortitude,  and  in  full  reliance  upon 
the  mercy  of  his  God,  purchased  by  the  blood  of  our  Sa- 
viour, he  was  devoutly  resigned  to  the  will  of  Providence. 
At  different  times  he  spoke  of  his  worldly  affairs,  and  gave 
the  necessary  directions  concerning  them  with  the  compo- 
sure of  a  man,  ■"  joyful  to  live,  yet  not  afraid  to  die." 

Soon  after  he  became  sensible  of  his  illness,  he  expressed 
an  earnest  wish  to  receive  the  blessed  sacrament  of  the 
Lord's  Supper,  of  which  he  had  often  before  partaken,  and 
for  that  purpose  desired  a  clergyman  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  should  be  sent  for.  When  the  opportu- 
nity was  afforded  to  him,  and  to  his  friends  around  him,  he 
evidenced  great  joy  and  thankfulness,  and  his  conversation 
at  the  time,  though  much  interrupted  by  the  severity  of  his 
sufferings,  was  full  of  instruction  and  comfort.  He  was  fre- 
quent and  most  fervent  in  prayer,  and  his  dying  moments 
evinced  the  efficacy  of  that  faith  which  in  his  early  youth 
he  is  known  to  have  embraced,  and  which  at  no  period  of 
his  life  was  shaken. 

The  loss  of  such  a  man  and  at  such  an  eventful  time  may 
well  be  expected  to  produce  a  general  grief.  In  the  midst 
of  our  afflictions,  however,  we  must  not  forget  that  this  sad 


55 


event  was  the  dispensation  of  Him  whose  goodness  and 
wisdom  and  mercy,  infinite  as  his  power,  and  to  whose  will 
it  is  our  duty  to  resign  our  own. 

The  Father  of  all  mercies  has  taken  him  from  us;  let  us 
bow  with  reverential  submission  to  his  will.  The  days  of 
our  deceased  friend  have  been  numbered,  and  he  is  gone  to 
receive  the  reward  of  his  good  deeds.  Let  us  sorrow,  but 
not  as  one  without  hope.  It  is  the  joy  and  delight  of  the 
pious  Christian  to  remember  that  those  separations,  painful 
as  they  may  be,  are  but  for  a  short  time  ;  that  the  severest 
afflictions  with  which  a  righteous  God  is  pleased  to  visit, 
will,  if  used  ricrhtlv,  conduce  to  our  everlasting-  salvation, 
and  that  when  it  shall  please  our  heavenly  Father,  to  re- 
move us  from  this  world  of  sin  and  suffering,  we  may  again 
enjoy  the  blessed  society  of  our  deceased  friends,  without 
those  weaknesses  and  fears  and  sorrows  which  in  this  life 
disturb  our  greatest  pleasure. 

On  Thursday  morning  his  remains  were  conveyed  to  the 
burying-ground  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  of  this 
place. 


Dr.  Philip  Thomas  and  his  son  John  Hanson  Thomas  are 
buried  in  the  Xew  Episcopal  Burying  Grounds  at  Frederick, 
Maryland.    The  following  epitaphs  appear  on  their  tombs  : 

South  Side. 

Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Dr.  Philip  Thomas,  who  died 
the  25th  April.  181  5,  aged  67. 

East  Side. 

Tenderly  affectionate  as  a  Husband  and  Father,  sincere 
and  ardent  as  a  friend,  a  devoted  patriot  of  '76.    Great  and 


56 


humane  as  a  physician,  just  and  honorable  in  all  his  transac- 
tions— such  was  the  character  of  the  lamented  deceased. 

North  Side. 

For  more  than  forty-five  years  he  was  laborious  and  zeal- 
ous in  his  profession. 

West  Side. 

A  Father  and  friend  to  the  sick;  his  humanity  knew  not 
the  distinction  between  rich  and  poor.  He  lived  in  com- 
munion with  the  P.  E.  Church,  of  which  he  was  a  zealous 
supporter,  and  relied  for  salvation  upon  the  merits  of  Jesus 
Christ. 


East  Side. 

Here  lie  the  mortal  remains  of  John  Hanson  Thomas, 
who  died  on  the  2nd  of  May,  1815,  in  the  35th  year  of  his 
age,  of  a  disease  contracted  from  an  anxious  attendance  at 
the  death-bed  of  his  father,  who  died  only  six  days  before 
him,  pouring  forth  blessings  with  his  latest  breath  on  his 
beloved  son. 

North  Side. 

Sincere,  ardent  and  constant  in  all  his  affections,  which 
embraced  every  relation  of  life,  of  the  mildest  manners  and 
purest  morals.  Generous,  just,  firm  and  diligent  in  the  ex- 
ercise of  virtue,  he  fulfilled  all  the  duties  incumbent  on  man 
in  a  private  station. 

West  Side. 

He  also  bore  a  conspicuous  part  in  public  affairs,  carry- 
ing to  the  public  service  a  vigorous  and  cultivated  mind,  a 


57 


steady,  yet  temperate  zeal,  industry  guided  by  prudence  and 
great  energy  of  character  and  conduct,  supported  by  in- 
tegrity, chastened  by  modesty  and  softened  by  charity. 

South  Side. 

In  life  and  in  death  firm  in  Christian  faith,  he  rested  his 
hopes  of  eternal  life  on  the  merits  of  the  Redeemer  and  the 
mercy  of  God. 

This  frail  monument  of  her  husbands  virtues,  and  of  her 
own  devoted  love,  is  placed  by  his  bereaved  widow  Mary 
Isham  Thomas. 


The  following  is  a  certificate  of  membership  of  the  Gild 
of  Glasgow  in  favor  of  John  Hanson  ;  upon  the  back  is  a 
tree  with  a  fish  inverted,  with  the  motto  :  "  Let  Glasgow 
flourish."    It  is  executed  upon  parchment — 

At  Glasgow  the  first  day  of  April  Seventeen  hundred  and 
fourty  Eight  years.  The  which  Day  In  Presence  of  the  Right 
i  Honourable  John  Murdoch  Esqr.  Lord  Provost  of  the  said  City 
;  George  Murdoch.  Colin  Dunlopand  James  Clark  Baillies  thereof 
John  Brozvn  Dean  of  Gild,  and  sundry  of  the  Gild  Council  of 
said  City  Mr.  John  Hanson  mercht.  in  Maryland  Virginia  Is  ad- 
mitted and  Received  Burgess  and  Gild  Brother  of  the  said  City 
and  the  whole  Liberties  Privileges  and  Immunities  belonging  to 
an  Burgess  and  Gild  Brother  thereof  are  granted  to  Him  in 
most  ample  Form  Who  gives  his  Oath  of  Fidelity  as  Use  is 
Extracted  furth  of  the  Gild  Books  of  the  said  City  By 

Jno.  McGilchrist  Dpt.  Clk. 

The  following  is  from  a  letter  of  Chief  Justice  Marshall 
upon  the  loss  of  his  wife : 


8 


58 


December  25th,  1832. 

This  day  of  joy  and  festivity  to  the  whole  Christian  world 
is,  to  my  sad  heart,  the  anniversary  of  the  keenest  affliction 
which  humanity  can  sustain.  While  all  around  is  gladness, 
my  mind  dwells  on  the  silent  tomb,  and  cherishes  the  re- 
membrance of  the  beloved  object  it  contains. 

On  the  25th  of  December,  1831,  it  was  the  will  of  Heaven 
to  take  to  itself  the  companion  who  had  sweetened  the 
choicest  part  of  my  life,  had  rendered  to  it  a  pleasure,  had 
partaken  of  all  my  feelings,  and  was  enthroned  in  the  inmost 
recess  of  my  heart.  Never  can  I  cease  to  feel  the  loss  and  i 
to  deplore  it.  Grief  for  her  is  too  sacred  ever  to  be  pro- 
faned on  this  day  which  shall  be,  during  my  existence,  de- 
voted to  her  memory. 

On  the  3rd  of  January,  1783,  I  was  united  by  the  holiest 
bonds  to  the  woman  I  adored.  From  the  hour  of  our  union 
to  that  of  our  separation,  I  never  ceased  to  thank  Heaven 
for  this  its  best  gift.  Not  a  moment  passed  in  which  I  did 
not  consider  her  a  blessing  from  which  the  chief  happiness 
of  my  life  was  derived.  This  never  dying  sentiment,  origi- 
nating in  love,  was  cherished  by  a  long  and  close  observation 
of  as  amiable  and  estimable  qualities  as  ever  adorned  the 
female  bosom. 

To  a  person  which,  in  youth,  was  very  attractive  in  man- 
ners, uncommonly  pleasing,  she  added  a  fine  understanding, 
and  the  sweetest  temper  which  can  accompany  a  just  and 
modest  sense  of  what  was  due  to  herself. 

I  saw  her  first  the  winter  she  attained  the  age  of  fourteen, 
and  was  greatly  pleased  with  her.  Girls  then  came  into 
company  much  earlier  than  at  present.  As  my  attention, 
though  without  any  avowed  purpose,  nor  so  open  or  direct 
as  to  alarm,  soon  became  ardent  and  assiduous,  her  heart  1 
received  an  impression  which  could  never  be  effaced.  Hav- 


59 


ing  felt  no  prior  attachment,  she  became,  at  sixteen,  a  most 
devoted  wife.  All  my  faults,  and  they  were  many,  could 
never  weaken  this  sentiment.  It  formed  a  part  of  her  ex- 
istence. 

Her  judgment  was  so  sound  and  so  safe,  that  I  have  often  ' 
relied  upon  it  in  situations  of  some  perplexity.  I  do  not 
recollect  ever  to  have  regretted  the  adoption  of  her  opinion. 
I  have  sometimes  regretted  its  rejection.  From  native  tim- 
idity, she  Was  opposed  to  everything  adventurous  ;  yet  few 
females  possessed  more  firmness.  That  timidity  so  influ- 
enced her  manners  that  I  could  rarely  prevail  on  her  to 
display  in  company  the  talents  I  knew  her  to  possess.  They 
were  reserved  for  her  husband  and  her  select  friends. 
Though  serious  as  well  as  quiet  in  her  deportment,  she  pos- 
sessed a  good  deal  of  chaste,  delicate  and  playful  wit,  and, 
if  she  permitted  herself  to  indulge  this  talent,  told  her  little 
story  with  grace,  and  could  mimic  very  successfully  the 
peculiarities  of  the  person  who  was  its  subject.  She  had  a 
fine  taste  for  belle-lettre  reading,  which  was  judiciously  ap- 
I  plied  in  the  selection  of  pieces  she  admired.  This  quality, 
by  improving  her  talents  for  conversation,  contributed  not 
inconsiderably  to  make  her  a  most  desirable  and  agreeable 
companion.  It  beguiled  many  of  those  winter  evenings, 
during  which  her  protracted  ill  health  and  her  feeble  nervous 
system,  confined  us  entirely  to  each  other.  I  can  never 
cease  to  look  back  on  them  without  deep  interest  and  re- 
gret. Time  has  not  diminished,  and  will  not  diminish  this 
interest  or  this  regret. 

In  all  the  relations  of  life,  she  was  a  model  which  those 
to  whom  it  was  given,  cannot  imitate  too  closely.  As  the 
wife,  the  mother,  the  mistress  of  a  family,  and  the  friend, 
her  life  furnished  an  example  to  those  who  could  observe  it 
intimately,  which  will  not  be  forgotten. 


6o 


She  felt  deeply  the  distress  of  others,  and  indulged  the 
feeling  liberally  on  objects  she  believed  to  be  meritorious. 
She  was  educated  with  a  profound  reverence  for  religion, 
which  she  preserved  to  her  last  moment.  This  sentiment 
among  her  earliest  and  deepest  impressions,  gave  a  color  to 
her  whole  life.  Hers  was  the  religion  taught  by  the  Saviour 
of  man  :  cheerful,  mild,  benevolent,  serious,  humane,  intent 
on  self-improvement,  and  on  the  improvement  of  those  who 
looked  to  her  for  precept  or  example.  She  was  a  firm  be- 
liever in  the  faith  inculcated  by  the  Church  in  which  she 
was  bred,  but  her  soft  and  gentle  temper  was  incapable  of 
adopting  the  gloomy  and  austere  dogmas  which  some  of  its 
professors  have  sought  to  engraft  on  it. 

I  have  lost  her,  and  with  her  I  have  lost  the  solace  of  my 
life  ;  yet  she  remains  still  the  companion  of  my  retired 
hours — still  occupies  my  inmost  bosom. 

When  alone  and  unemployed,  my  mind  unceasingly  re- 
curs to  her.  More  than  a  thousand  times  since  the  25th  of 
December,  1831,  have  I  repeated  to  myself  the  beautiful 
lines  written  by  General  Burgoyne,  under  a  similar  afflic- 
tion, substituting  Mary  for  Anna  : 

Encompassed  in  an  angel's  frame 

An  angle's  virtues  lay ; 
Too  soon  did  Heaven  assert  its  claim, 

And  take  its  own  away. 
My  Mary's  worth,  my  Mary's  charms, 

Can  nevermore  return. 
What  now  shall  fill  these  widowed  arms? 

Ah  me  ;  my  Mary's  urn  ; 

Ah  me  ;  ah  me  ;  my  Mary's  urn. 


6i 


Letter  from  Daniel  Webster  to  John  Hanson  Thomas: 
Washington,  December  31st,  18 14. 

Dear  Sir: — 

I  know  you  will  pardon  the  liberty  I  take  in  addressing 
you,  when  I  tell  you  my  purpose  is  to  congratulate  you  on 
the  overthrow  of  the  plan  of  Conscription,  which  has  been 
brought  forward  in  Congress.  Feeling  as  if  we  had  received 
in  this  event,  a  renewal  of  the  lease  of  our  liberties,  and  a 
prolongation  of  the  old  partnership  of  the  United  States, 
I  wish  to  thank  all  those  whose  labors  have  contributed  to 
these  desirable  ends,  and  among  them  I  count  the  Federal- 
ists in  your  Legislature,  and  yourself  particularly  as  the 
mover  of  their  measures. 

Whatever  had  been,  or  could  have  been  said  in  Congress 
in  opposition  to  their  divers  plans  of  compulsory  service, 
was  not  likely  to  produce  the  necessary  effect.  It  was  pub- 
lic opinion  that  destroyed  the  measure.  The  Bill  had  been 
passed  in  the  House  of  Representatives  and  sent  back  to 
the  Senate  with  amendments,  to  which  the  Senate  objected, 
and  returned  the  Bill  to  the  House.  The  House  would  not 
depart  from  their  amendments,  and  sent  the  Bill  again  to 
the  Senate.  The  thing  was  thus  thrown  about  from  House 
to  House,  by  votes  to  insist,  and  votes  to  adhere,  till,  finally, 
being  before  the  Senate  on  Wednesday,  Mr.  King  moved  its 
postponement  beyond  the  fourth  of  March,  which  was  car- 
ried by  a  majority  of  one  vote. 

It  is  understood  that  there  had  been  for  several  days  a 
determination  of  the  Party  not  to  pass  the  Bill,  and  that  the 
only  difficulty  was  to  agree  which  House  should  strangle  a 
brat  which  both  had  taken  so  much  pains  to  nurse.  You 
may  rely  upon  it,  here  is  an  end  of  all  conscription  for  the 
present.  Some  hot  heads  may  be  inclined  to  bring  forward 
new  projects  of  a  similar  sort,  but  a  majority  will  not  ven- 
ture upon  them. 


62 


All  that  has  been  learned  of  public  opinion  from  one  end 
of  the  country  to  the  other,  has'  been  warm  and  decided 
against  these  measures.  It  is  time  that  party  attachment 
had  stifled  this  sentiment  in  some  degree  and  in  some  places, 
but  really  and  truly  there  seems  to  have  been  but  one  opin- 
ion among  the  people.  The  proceedings  of  your  House  of 
Delegates  were  calculated  to  produce  as  much  effect  as  any 
thing  from  without  does.  It  was  easy  to  accuse  New  Eng- 
land of  a  disposition  towards  schism  and  disunion,  and  to 
ascribe  her  opposition  to  measures  to  that  temper.  Your 
situation  made  it  impossible  to  impute  your  votes  to  such 
designs. 

We  are  at  present  busy  with  the  Bank.  It  will  probably 
pass  very  much  in  the  shape  in  which  Mr.  Dallas  originally 
recommended  it.  This  is  not  quite  certain,  but  is  probable. 
Our  friend  Hanson  is  expected  from  Baltimore  to-morrow. 

I  am,  sir,  with  great  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

DAN'L  WEBSTER. 


Letter  from  Mrs.  D.  P.  Madison,  franked  by  President 
James  Madison,  to  Mrs.  John  Hanson  Thomas  : 

Long  after  its  date,  dear  Mrs.  Thomas,  I  had  the  pleasure 
to  receive  your  charming  note,  containing  an  emblem  of  con- 
stancy, which  I  have  carefully  put  away  with  other  valuables. 
I  must  tell  you,  however,  that  this  magic  flower  was  not 
necessary  to  remind  us  of  one  whom  we  so  truly  admire  and 
whose  visit,  with  her  son,  to  Montpelier,  is  a  bright  gleam 
in  our  retrospections. 

I  regret  that  Mrs.  Grymes  did  not  send  it  before  she  left 
our  neighborhood,  or  inform  me  she  had  met  you  in  Balti- 
more, in  order  that  I  might  have  made  inquiries  after  you, 
your  estimable  mother  and  your  sister,  and  have  learnt  from 


63 


her  whether  you  had  left  that  place,  or  where  I  should  ad- 
dress you.  Being  now  at  a  loss,  I  shall  commit  this  to  our 
friend,  Doct.  Dunglison. 

My  dear  Husband  is  better,  after  several  spells  of  illness 
during  the  winter  and  spring.  He  is  not  yet  well  enough 
to  ride  out,  but  my  hopes  of  his  recovery  revive,  even  with 
this  small  amendment  in  the  state  of  his  health. 

Will  you  accept  from  him,  and  from  me,  our  united  and 
affectionate  salutations? 

May  1st,  1835.  D.  P.  MADISON. 


Letter  from  Governor  Levin  Winder  to  John  Hanson 
Thomas,  Chairman  of  Committee  of  Defence. 

In  Council,  January  3d,  1813. 

Sir  : — We  had  the  honor  to  receive  your  letter  of  the  20th 
of  December,  requesting  ua  communication  of  any  views 
which  may  have  occurred  to  the  Executive,  applicable  to  the 
objects  before  the  Committee,"  of  which  you  are  Chairman. 

We  have  already  observed  to  the  Legislature  that  this 
State,  with  the  limited  resources  which  it  possesses,  is  un- 
equal to  any  extensive  system  of  defence.  At  the  last  ses- 
sion of  the  General  Assembly,  it  was  found  necessary  to 
authorize  the  Treasurer  to  borrow  a  considerable  sum  of 
money.  The  greater  part  of  this  is  now  expended,  and 
further  sums  can  only  be  had  by  taxation  or  loan.  With 
respect  to  the  former  mode  of  raising  money,  the  taxes  re- 
cently laid  by  the  General  Government  will  at  this  date  be 
found  peculiarly  burthensome  and  oppressive,  and  when  all 
trade  is  destroyed,  and,  as  necessary  consequences,  the  pro- 
ducts of  their  labour  are  reduced  in  price,  and  the  necessa- 
ries of  life  enormously  high,  it  would  seem  almost  impossible 
for  the  people  of  Maryland  to  bear  any  additional  burthens. 


64 


The  money  wanted  for  the  defence  of  the  State,  we  appre- 
hend, therefore  can  be  obtained  only  by  loan.  It  is  difficult 
to  determine  to  what  extent  we  can  calculate  upon  this  re- 
source. A  great  part  of  that  already  negotiated  is  payable 
in  a  short  time,  and  to  preserve  the  credit  of  the  State  it  is 
essential  that  some  judicious  system  should  be  adopted,  and 
ample  funds  pledged  to  secure  the  punctual  payment  of  the 
interest,  as  well  as  the  discharge  of  the  principal,  when  due. 

Immediately  after  the  Resolve  of  the  Legislature,  author- 
izing the  borrowing  of  $450,000  was  passed,  the  Treasurer 
was  directed  to  inquire  of  the  several  Banks  of  Baltimore, 
and  the  Farmer's  Bank  of  Maryland,  -upon  what  terms  and 
to  what  amount  they  could  loan  the  State.  The  whole 
amount  offered  was  only  $425,000,  of  which  the  State  bor- 
rowed $300,000.  A  greater  sum  might  be  probably  obtained 
at  this  time  from  these  institutions,  and  from  private  indi- 
viduals. 

Adequate  protection  can  be  afforded  only  by  the  General 
Government,  and  when  immense  sums  are  to  be  drawn  from 
the  pockets  of  our  own  Citizens,  a  hope  may  be  indulged 
that  a  portion  of  it  at  least  will  be  employed  in  the  defence 
of  our  shores. 

'  It  will  be  for  the  wisdom  of  the  General  Assembly  to  de- 
cide in  what  manner  the  claim  of  the  State  to  protection 
from  the  General  Government  shall  be  made.  We  must  be 
permitted  to  remark,  that  to  give  to  our  citizens  any  assur- 
ances of  the  ability  of  the  State,  without  the  aid  of  the 
National  authority,  to  afford  them  adequate  protection, 
would  be  to  practice  a  cruel  deception  upon  them. 

The  State  itself,  so  far  as  it  may  be  compelled  to  engage 
in  its  own  defence,  must  rely  principally  upon  the  Militia, 
and,  therefore,  every  attention  should  be  paid  to  the  laws 
for  its  government.    In  addition  to  this,  we  must  suggest 


65 


the  propriety,  if  found  necessary,  of  authorizing  a  small 
number  of  troops  to  be  raised  at  the  expense,  and  for  the 
defence  of  the  State.  The  advantage  of  having  disciplined 
soldiers  to  co-operate  with  the  Militia,  when  embodied, 
must  be  obvious.  The  expense,  too,  of  that  description  of 
force  would  be  much  less  than  that  incurred  by  calling  out 
the  same  number  of  Militia. 

We  have  already  recommended  the  encouragement  of 
mounted  volunteers.  As  there  are  in  the  State  more  corps  of 
cavalry  than  can  be  employed,  it  would  be  proper  to  author- 
ize the  Executive  to  accept  of  their  tender  of  service  as 
mounted  Infantry. 

It  will  be  necessary  also  to  procure  a  sufficient  number  of 
tents,  and  other  articles  necessary  for  the  accomodation  of 
the  Militia  when  in  service.  The  State  at  present  is  misera- 
bly supplied  in  these  articles,  and  from  the  want  of  them 
during  the  past  season  those  of  our  fellow-citizens  who  have 
been  upon  tours  of  duty,  have  suffered  greatly. 

We  have  the  honour  to  be  your  obedient  servant, 

LEV.  WINDER. 
To  John  Hanson  Thomas,  Esq.,  Chairman  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  the  defenceless  and  unprotected  situation  in 
which  the  State  has  been  left  by  the  General  Govern- 
ment, &c,  &c. 

Letter  from  Alexander  Contee  Hanson  to  John  Hanson 
Thomas,  relative  to  the  re-publication  of  the  "Federal  Re- 
publican' in  Baltimore: 

ROCKVILLE,  MD.,  July  14,  (l8l2.) 

My  dear  Friend : — 

#  *  *  #  *  *  * 

My  plans  are  at  length  arranged,  and  will  be  ready  for 
execution  on  Monday  week,  but  must  be  kept  profoundly 
9 


66 

secret.  On  Monday  week  the  Federal  Republican  re-appears 
at  Baltimore  and  Georgetown  at  the  same  time.  A  brave 
and  trusty  friend,  of  Baltimore,  now  with  me,  is  to  fortify  a 
three-story  brick  house,  surrounded  with  a  brick  wall,  fifteen 
feet  high,  and  it  is  to  be  garrisoned  by  a  party  from  Mont- 
gomery, to  be  joined  by  twenty  chosen  fellows  in  Baltimore. 
We  will  live  there  a  week,  all  things  being  prepared  for  our 
support,  and  comfortable  entertainment,  during  which  we 
will  put  the  civil  authority  and  the  Washington  Society  up- 
on their  legs  again,  or  we  will  win  laurels  from  the  mob. 
We  all  went  out  to  Anderson's  last  evening,  and  finally  set- 
tled our  plans  of  operations.  He  at  once  said  he  was  already 
pledged  to  go  with  me,  and  u  was  not  only  willing,  but  anx- 
ious." Lingan  also  declared  himself  ready,  the  evening 
before  last.  Now  this  is  to  beg  of  you  to  convey  information 
to  Colonel  Lynn,  to  whom  I  am  solemnly  pledged  to  give 
notice  in  time  for  him  to  join  us  ;  Rockville  is  to  be  the  rally- 
ing point,  and  we  all  assemble  Saturday  evening  in  time  to 
set  out  Sunday  morning.  Glory  will  crown  our  enterprise, 
and  if  we  only  kill  as  many  of  the  mob,  as  they  destroyed  | 
type,  we  shall  certainly  leave  the  Federalists  of  Baltimore  in 
the  majority.  As  soon  as  we  arrive  in  Baltimore,  and  get 
into  our  Castle,  a  note  will  be  dispatched  to  the  Mayor,  in- 
forming him  of  our  arrival,  of  the  street  and  number  from 
which  the  paper  will  be  issued,  and  of  my  determination  to 
defend  the  house  at  every  extremity.  It  will  be  the  proudest 
moment  of  my  life,  when  I  take  possession  of  the  house,  and 
each  man  has  his  place  assigned  him.  When  I  see  you,  all 
our  plans  will  be  unfolded,  meantime  apprize  Lynn  and  be 
close.  I  have  pledged  myself  to  the  Baltimore  party,  to  be 
up  on  the  day  appointed,  if  only  ten  men  join  me.  The 
standard  being  once  erected  in  Baltimore,  there  will  be  no 
difficulty  in  getting  men,  they  will  flock  to  it,  when  they  see 


67 


us  able  and  determined  to  defend  ourselves.  The  main 
point  will  be,  to  keep  out  of  our  garrison,  men  who  will 
come  there  to  preach  moderation,  and  damp  our  ardor.  As 
I  shall  take  care  of  the  house  and  shall  place  it  under  the 
direction  of  Lingan,  the  discipline  and  formality  of  a  garri- 
son shall  be  observed. 

I  am  impatient  for  the  hour  to  arrive  ;  what  a  triumph  we 
shall  gain  over  the  Democrats  ;  what  an  example  we  shall  set 
the  Federalists  ;  what  will  Madison  and  his  minions  think 
when  they  hear  that  Hanson  is  issuing  his  paper  from  a  for- 
tified and  regularly  garrisoned  house?  My  bosom  is  a  very 
furnace. 

Yours  ever  faithfully  and  affectionately, 

A.  C.  HANSON. 


Letter  from  John  Hanson  Thomas,  to  his  wife,  relative  to 
to  the  mob  and  massacre  in  Baltimore,  July  28th,  1812. 

Thursday  Evening,  (July  30th.  18 12.) 

I  have  fearful  tidings  to  communicate  from  Baltimore — 
yesterday  was  a  day  of  dreadful  intelligence  to  us.  In  the 
morning  we  heard,  and  the  account  was  confirmed  by  two  of 
the  party  who  arrived  at  Frederick,  that  Alexander  Hanson 
and  his  friends,  to  the  number  of  twenty-two,  after  having 
repelled  and  killed  several  of  the  mob,  who  made  an  attack 
on  the  house  on  Monday,  when  the  paper  was  issued,  were 
induced  by  the  treachery  of  the  civil  authorities  and  the 
weak  advise  of  General  Lee,  contrary  to  Hanson's  solemn 
exhortation  and  prophetic  resolution  to  surrender  themselves 
prisoners  ;  and  were  marched  to  the  Jail  under  the  most 
solemn   assurances  of  the   Mayor  and   General  Strieker ; 


68 

£ 
f 

that  they  should  be  protected,  and  that  in  violation  of  this 
sacred  pledge,  they  were  left  without  a  guard,  and  all  brutally 
sacrificed,  with  the  exception  of  only  five,  who  escaped. 

In  the  evening  my  sister  and  Mary  Hanson  came  in  the 
stage  and  brought  intelligence,  that  several  of  those  whom 
the  mob  believed  they  had  murdered,  notwithstanding  the 
most  brutal,  savage  cruelty,  exercised  on  their  bodies,  were 
still  alive;  that  the  poor,  noble,  gallant  Hanson,  was  among 
the  number  who  might  live,  and  that  Dr.  Alexander  was 
bringing  him  u-p  in  a  hack.  At  sunset  a  party  of  us  left 
town  and  came  to  Dr.  Warfield's.  At  3  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing we  found  three  of  our  friends,  who  had  been  brought  up 
here,  in  the  most  horrid  condition,  and  that  Hanson  was 
fifteen  miles  below,  at  Judge  Ridgely's. 

We  had  found  Mrs.  Hanson  at  the  Poplar  Springs,  in  a 
state  of  wretched  uncertainty,  but  while  we  were  with  her 
a  messenger  arrived  from  Judge  Ridgely's,  with  news  from 
her  husband,  desiring  her  to  meet  him  at  Dr.  Warfield's  to- 
day. We  pushed  on,  collected  a  military  party  at  Dr.  War- 
field's,  and  proceeded  this  morning  to  Judge  Ridgely's,  from 
whence  we  brought  poor  Hanson  and  a  mangled  friend  up 
to  the  Doctor's,  about  an  hour  ago,  where  we  met  his  family 
and  four  other  associates  lying  here  in  the  most  horrible  and 
shocking  condition,  but  they  are  in  the  most  benevolent 
quarters,  and  I  pray  to  God  may  survive. 

I  have  not  time  for  particulars,  and  had  intended  to  go  to 
,  Frederick  to-night,  and  go  on  to  Honeywood  tomorrow,  ap- 
prehending that  intelligence  might  reach  you,  which  might 
occasion  alarm,  but  being  in  a  perfectly  safe  and  comfortable 
place,  and  not  having  slept  any  last  night,  my  friends  insist 
upon  it  that  I  ought  to  take  rest,  and  one  of  them  has  un- 
dertaken to  send  this  letter  to-night,  for  the  boys  to  carry 
up  to-morrow.    I  have  consented  reluctantly  to  stay,  though 


6g 


I  believe  if  you  could  direct  me,  you  would  insist  upon  my 
not  venturing  out  to-night,  to  endure  further  fatigue. 

General  Lingan  has  died  of  his  wounds — he  was  most  in- 
humanly butchered.  This  moment  a  letter  from  Baltimore 
states  that  General  Lee,  who  was  supposed  desperate,  may 
possibly  survive  ;  all  of  them  were  brutally,  most  brutally 
mangled,  in  a  manner  that  would  not  be  thought  credible 
in  this  Country,  and  which,  when  I  come  to  relate  to  you  the 
particulars,  as  I  hope  to  do  in  a  few  days,  you  will  agree  with 
me,  perhaps,  that  it  is  worse  even,  then  anything  you  have 
read  of  the  revolutionary  hell-hounds  of  France.  Had 
Hanson  not  been  overruled  by  poor  Lee,  he  would  have 
brought  off  his  whole  party  completely  safe  and  triumphant ; 
even  as  it  was,  when  the  mob  broke  into  the  cell  of  the 
prison,  such  of  his  friends  as  escaped,  were  indebted  to  his 
presence  of  mind  and  intrepidity  in  knocking  out  the  light 
in  the  mob's  hands,  and  mixing  among  them.  After  the 
ruffians  had  supposed  Hanson  entirely  dead,  they  tried  the 
most  shocking  cruelty  upon  him  to  see  if  he  would  move  ; 
but  here  again  his  wondrous  extraordinary  fortitude  and 
self-possession,  in  the  midst  of  excruciating  torment,  saved 
him,  for  he  neither  supplicated,  looked,  breathed  or  moved. 
His  escape,  and  the  escape  of  others,  if  under  the  mercy  of 
God  it  proves  to  be  an  escape  from  death,  is  miraculous. 

I  enclose  you  the  paper  which  was  issued  on  Monday, 
when  in  the  morning  near  two  hundred  new  subscribers  from 
the  neighboring  counties,  and  a  list  from  Massachusetts  of 
five  hundred,  I  am  told,  were  sent  to  the  office.  I  am  told, 
I  say,  for  the  poor  fellow  can  hardly  speak  himself. 

In  this  situation,  and  the  wretchedness  of  his  poor  wife, 
I  confess  I  should  not  know  how  to  leave  them  this  even- 
ing. Charles  Hanson  is  here,  and  the  house  is  crowded 
with  friends.    This  dreadful  account  will  probably  prevent 


7o 


our  Court  from  sitting  long.  Frank  Key  was  here  to-day, 
and  has  gone  on  in  quest  of  more  certain  information  of 
Daniel  Murray,  who  is  one  of  the  suffering  victims. 

*       *       *       Yours  affectionately, 

J.  HANSON  THOMAS. 


The  following  letter  was  written  by  John  Hanson,  Chair- 
man of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  Frederick  County,  and 
presented  to  John  Hancock,  the  President  of  Continental 
Congress,  by  Thos.  Johnson,  one  of  the  Delegates  from  the 
State  of  Maryland. 

Frederick  Town,  Frederick  Co.,  Md., 

November  24th,  1775. 

Sir : — I  am  directed  by  the  Committee  of  Public  Safety, 
of  this  county,  to  transmit  to  you  copies  of  the  examina- 
tions of  Allen  Cameron^  John  Smith,  and  John  Connelly, 
and  a  letter  to  one  John  Gibson,  of  Fort  Dunmore,  from 
Connelly,  and  Lord  Dunmore's  speech  to  "  White  Eyes  " 
(of  the  Delaware  tribe  of  Indians,)  and  proposals  by  Con- 
nelly and  General  Gage,  of  Boston,  for  the  raising  of  an 
army  for  the  destruction  of  the  Liberties  of  the  Colonies. 
Any  order  relative  to  the  prisoners  will  be  strictly  observed. 
The  Committee  and  inhabitants  of  this  County  being  de- 
termined to  pursue  every  measure  which  the  Congress  may 
recommend  to  them,  and  necessary  for  the  preservation  of 
these  colonies  at  this  time  of  imminent  danger. 

I  am,  sir,  with  great  respect, 

JOHN  HANSON, 


To  the  Congress. 


7i 


From  John  Hanson  to  Dr.  Philip  Thomas. 

Philadelphia,  February  28th,  1 7 8 1 . 

Dear  Doctor  : 

I  congratulate  you  on  the  important  blow  given  by  Count 
D'Estaing  to  the  British  fleet  of  the  Western  Islands— an  ac- 
count of  which  you  have  in  the  inclosed  paper — the  same 
intelligence  comes  by  a  vessel  just  arrived  here  from 
Havana,  and  I  believe  the  truth  of  it  may  be  depended  upon. 
Our  affairs  to  the  Southward  brighten  fast ;  it  is  to  be  hoped 
a  good  account  will  be  shortly  given  of  Master  Cornwallis,  if 
General  Green  can  avoid  coming  to  a  general  action  for  a 
few  days.  I  think  Cornwallis'  army  must  be  destroyed. 
The  English  ships  are  blocked  up  at  Portsmouth  by  a  sixty- 
four  and  two  French  frigates.  A  detachment  from  the 
main  army  of  about  fifteen  hundred  men  are  on  the  march, 
commanded  by  the  Marquis  de  Lafayette,  destined  for 
Portsmouth  ;  their  route  by  way  of  the  head  of  Elk,  and 
from  thence  by  water.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  State  of 
Maryland  will  give  all  the  assistance  they  can  in  this  enter- 
prise; they  have  some  armed  vessels  at  Baltimore  and  An- 
napolis, and  men  surely  may  be  had.  This  expedition  has 
endeavored  to  be  kept  secret,  but  I  believe  to  no  purpose  ; 
however,  you  will  be  cautious  to  whom  you  mention  it.  I 
would  not  choose  it  should  be  known  you  have  it  from  me. 

The  extravagant  price  of  goods  here,  especially  white 
broad  cloth,  made  me  hesitate  for  some  time  whether  you 
would  be  willing  to  have  them  on  such  terms  or  not,  but  as 
there  is  no  possibility  of  their  being  cheaper,  and  consider- 
ing the  necessity  you  may  conceive  yourself  under,  of  having 
the  cloth,  I  have  sent  it  with  the  other  articles  for  Jane,  an 
account  of  which  you  have  below  : 

2y2  yards  superfine  white  broad-cloth,  @  $1200,  S3000 
]/2  yard  blue  kersamers,    -----  300 


72 


I      double  thick  twist,    -----  56 

2j{  yards  blue  durants,  @  $110,         -       -       -  247^ 
1%     "     gauze  scotch,  @     60,             -       -  90 

1     yard  silk  gauze,     ______  120 

1     hat,  -       -       -       -       -  -       -  1200 


$5013^ 

By  30  new  dollars  @  75,  $2250. 

Yours  truly, 

JOHN  HANSON. 

From  John  Hanson  to  Dr.  Philip  Thomas. 

Philadelphia,  October  2nd,  1780. 

Dear  Doctor  : 

#  -X-  -3*  4f  -5f  *        ,    *  *  * 

The  following  is  an  extract  of  General  Gates'  letter  to 
General  Washington,  dated  3rd  inst. : 

"  I  had  the  honor  the  day  before  yesterday,  to  receive 
your  Excellency's  letter  of  date  the  8th  August,  from  Orange 
Town.  It  gives  me  infinite  satisfaction  to  find  you  had 
baffled  Sir  Henry  Clinton's  designs,  and  was  to  all  appear- 
ances in  so  prosperous  a  condition.  Heaven  grant  you  the 
greatest  honor  and  success.  If  I  can  yet  render  good  service 
to  the  United  States,  it  will  be  necessary  it  should  be  seen, 
that  I  have  the  support  of  Congress  and  your  Excellency ; 
otherwise  some  men  may  think  they  please  my  superiors  by 
blaming  me,  and  thus  recommend  themselves  to  favor. 
But  you,  sir,  will  be  too  generous  to  lend  your  ear  to  such 
men.  if  such  there  be,  and  will  show  your  greatness  of  soul 
rather  by  protecting  than  slighting  the  unfortunate.  If  on 
the  contrary,  I  am  not  supported,  and  countenance  is  given 


73 

to  every  one  who  will  speak  disrespectfully  of  me.  it  will  be 
better  for  Congress  to  remove  me  at  once  from  a  command, 
where  I  shall  be  unable  to  render  them  any  good  service  ; 
this,  sir,  I  submit  to  your  candor  and  honor,  and  shall  cheer- 
fully await  the  decision  of  my  superior.  With  the  warmest 
wishes  for  your  prosperity,  and. the  sincerest  sentiments  of 
esteem  and  regard,  I  am.  &c." 

How  is  the  mighty  fallen,  and  the  proud  humbled  ;  who 
could  have  expected  such  humiliating  language  from  the 
man  who  aspired  to  be  placed  at  the  head  of  our  army,  and 
to  the  man,  too,  whom  he  had  endeavored  to  supplant  ? 

The  enclosed  letters  will  inform  you  of  the  most  horrid 
plot  that  ever  was  conceived  by  the  heart  of  man,  and  had 
it  succeeded,  would  have  been  a  most  fatal  stroke  to  the 
liberties  of  America.  The  fort  at  West  Point  was  not  only 
to  have  been  delivered  up  to  the  enemy,  but  our  worthy 
General  was  also  to  have  been  put  into  their  hands.  The 
General  that  day  came  to  Arnold's  quarters,  which  was  at 
Robinson's  house,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  from  the 
Fort,  where  he  intended  to  have  stayed  that  night.  A 
number  of  men  who  were  prepared  for  the  purpose  were  to 
have  surrounded  the  house  in  the  night,  and  carried  him  off, 
but  thank  God,  all  has  been  prevented  by  apprehending  the 
villain  Andre,  who  I  hope  will  shortly  be  executed. 

Though  we  were  led  to  believe  that  the  great  prepara- 
tions for  a  large  embarkation  of  troops  at  New  York,  was 
intended  to  operate  against  Rhode  Island,  or  to  the  South- 
ward, it  now  appears  their  object  was  West  Point.  The 
French  fleet  is  not  arrived  yet,  and  as  the  season  is  so  far 
advanced,  it  is  not  probable,  I  think,  they  will  come  at  all ; 
indeed,  I  don't  see  any  great  good  could  be  expected  from 
them,  unless  "they  were  to  go  to  the  Southward.    I  never 

10 


74 


was  very  sanguine  in  my  expectations  against  New  York, 
and  it  is  now  too  late  to  attempt  the  taking  of  that  place. 

Yours  affectionately, 

JOHN  HANSON. 


From  John  Hanson  to  Dr.  Philip  Thomas. 

Philadelphia,  October  ioth,  1780. 

Dear  Doctor : 

-St.* 

Andre  was  hanged  on  Monday  last.  He  made  no  discov- 
eries. He  was  asked  at  the  gallows  if  he  had  anything  to 
say.  His  answer  was,  that  he  was  not  afraid  to  die  ;  that 
he  was  prepared  for  it,  but  was  concerned  at  the  manner ; 
he  would  much  rather  have  been  shot  ;  desired  that  it  might 
be  taken  notice  that  his  behavior  at  his  execution  was  such 
as  became  a  gentleman  and  a  soldier.  He  was  dressed  in  a 
new  suit  of  regimentals  with  his  sword  by  his  side.  His 
friend  Smith,  it  is  said,  will  share  the  same  fate  in  a  few 
days.  Old  Franks,  of  this  city,  is  taken  upon  suspicion  of 
treasonable  practices  and  imprisoned.  His  son,  one  of 
Arnold's  aids,  it  is  said,  is  gone  off. 

On  the  5th  inst.,  the  Commander-in-Chief,  by  a  resolve 
of  Congress,  is  directed  to  order  a  court  of  inquiry  on  the 
conduct  of  General  Gates,  and  to  appoint  an  officer  to  take 
command  of  the  Southern  army  until  such  inquiry  be  made. 
Some  honorable  notice  will  be  taken  of  the  Baron  de  Kalb, 
who  fell  so  gloriously  in  the  cause  of  America ;  and  the 
thanks  of  Congress  will  be  returned  to  Generals  Smallwood 
and  Gist,  and  to  the  officers  and  men  under  their  command, 
for  their  conduct  and  bravery  in  the  late  action  near 
Camden. 


75 


All  expectations  of  the  arrival  of  the  French  fleet  are  at 
an  end.  Ternay.  by  erecting  fortifications  on  different  parts 
of  Rhode  Island,  has  secured  his  fleet  and  the  armv  against 
any  attempts  of  the  enemy  :  this  being  the  case,  and  Clinton 
having  failed  in  his  designs  against  West  Point,  it  is  more 
than  probable  his  next  object  will  be  to  the  southward  :  the 
climate  is  favorable  for  a  winter  campaign,  and  a  considera- 
ble number  of  men  may  be  spared  from  Xew  York  without 
hazarding  that  place,  as  no  attempt  can  be  made  by  us  on 
that  place  with  any  prospect  of  success,  while  the  enemy  is 
so  far  superior  at  sea. 

Please  tell  Toney  to  get  his  horses  fat,  or  I  shall  be  much 
displeased  when  I  return. 

Yours, 

JOHN  HAXSOX. 

From  John  Jay  i  formerly  Chief  Justice  of  United 
States,)  to  Dr.  Philip  Thomas. 

Bedford,  West  Chester  Co., 

State  of  Xew  York,  2nd  Sept.,  1807. 

Sir; — I  have  received  from  Mr.  Coleman,  your  letter  of 
the  24th  of  July,  enclosing  an  oration  delivered  by  your  son, 
at  the  request  of  the  Washington  Society,  on  the  anniver- 
sary of  our  Independence  :  it  should  have  been  answered 
immediately,  but  sickness  constrained  me  to  postpone 
writing. 

Accept  my  acknowledgements  for  the  marks  of  esteem 
and  respect  with  which  you  honor  me.  and  for  the  pleasure 
with  which  I  have  read  the  oration  ;  it  exhibits  indications 
of  genius  and  eloquence,  which  naturally  afford  cordial  satis- 
faction to  an  affectionate  parent,  and  I  congratulate  you  on 
the  prospect  of  your  having  similar  and  repeated  gratifica- 
tions. 


;6 

With  the  best  wishes  that  this  prospect  may  be  realized, 
and  that  you  and  your  son  may  be  blessed  with  many  years 
and  opportunities  to  promote  and  enjoy  each  others  happi- 
ness, I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

Sir,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  JAY. 

Obituary  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Colston.  Died  at  Honey- 
wood,  in  the  County  of  Berkeley,  Va.,  on  Friday  the  24th 
inst.,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Colston,  relict  of  Rawleigh  Colston, 
Esq.,  in  the  86th  year  of  her  age.  This  lady  was  the  eldest 
sister  of  the  late  Chief  Justice  Marshall,  whom  she  strongly 
resembled  in  many  respects,  particularly  in  the  directness 
and  perfect  simplicity  of  her  character.  Of  uncommon  clear 
and  vigorous  mind,  she  used  every  faculty,  not  to  magnify 
herself,  but  humbly  to  direct  her  to  the  proper  discharge  of 
every  social  and  moral  virtue.  As  a  wife,  parent,  mistress, 
relation,  neighbor  and  friend,  she  attracted  the  love  and 
esteem  of  all  who  approached  her.  More  especially  was 
her  Christian  character  marked  and  decisive,  seeming  to 
strengthen  as  her  physical  powers  decayed.  From  the  mid- 
dle of  the  preceding  month,  she  had  been  confined  to  her 
bed,  and  suffered  much  pain.  Throughout  the  whole  she 
was  perfectly  resigned  to  the  will  of  God;  yet  constantly 
praying,  if  it  were  His  will,  she  might  be  permitted  to  depart 
and  go  hence.  It.  was  natural  that  her  devoted  family 
should  pray  for  her  recovery,  but  this  she  requested  them 
not  to  do,  as  her  strongest  desire  was  to  be  with  her  Lord? 
in  whom  she  trusted.  She  retained  her  self-possession  to 
the  last,  and  although  she  seldom  spoke  voluntarily,  yet 
always  when  addressed,  returned  direct  and  appropriate 
answers.    Her  surrounding  friends,  therefore,  had  from  her- 


77 

self  the  comfortable  assurance  that  all  her  thoughts  and  all 
her  hopes  were  placed  on  Jesus.  She  was  evidently  engaged 
to  within  a  quarter  of  an  hour  of  her  dissolution,  in  prayer, 
and  passed  without  a  groan  or  struggle  from  time  into  eter- 
nity, leaving  to  those  who  witnessed  it,  a  beautiful  example 
of  the  peaceful  death  of  the  righteous. 


The  following  is  taken  from  the  family  Bible  of  Dr.  John 
Hanson  Thomas  : 

John  Hanson,  born  171 5,  died  1783,  aged  68. 

Mrs.  Jane  Contee  Hanson,  died  21st  February,  18 12,  in 
the  85th  year  of  her  age,  being  84  in  the  September  pre- 
ceding. 

Catharine  Contee  Hanson,  born  16th  November,  1744. 
Jane  Contee  Hanson,  born  23rd  February,  1747,  died  17th 
June,  1 78 1. 

Alexander  Contee  Hanson,  born  22nd  October,  1749,  died 
1806. 

Elizabeth  Flanson,  born  9th  December,  1 75 1 ,  died  12th 
October,  1753. 

John  Hanson,  born  18th  March,  1753,  died  6th  March, 
1760. 

Samuel  Hanson,  born  25th  August,  1756,  died  29th  June, 

1781. 

Peter  Contee  Hanson,  born  9th  December,  1758,  killed  at 
Fort  Washington,  November,  1776. 

Grace  Hanson,  born  19th  September,  1762,  died  10th 
August,  1763. 

[The  above  was  written  by  John  Hanson,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  first  two.] 

John  Hanson  Thomas,  born  16th  May,  1779,  anc*  Mary 
Isham  Colston,  born  23rd  January,  1789;  married  by  the 


7? 


Rev.  Mr.  Belmain,  Thursday,  5th  October,  1809,  and  had 
issue  : 

Philip  Hanson  Thomas,  born  10th  September,  18 10. 

Rawleigh  Colston  Thomas,  born  12th  August,  181 2. 

Charles  Edward  Thomas,  born  23rd  September,  181 3. 

[The  above  was  written  by  John  Hanson  Thomas.] 

John  Hanson  Thomas,  Junior,  born  13th  May,  181 5,  died 
July  29th,  aged  2  months,  16  days. 

John  Hanson  Thomas,  Senior,  died  May  2nd,  181 5,  aged 
35  years,  11  months,  16  days. 

Philip  Hanson  Thomas,  died  November  nth,  1821,  aged 
1 1  years,  2  months  and  1  day. 

Rawleigh  Colston  Thomas,  died  June  16th,  1826,  aged 
13  years,  10  months  and  4  days. 

[The  above  was  written  by  Mrs.  M.  J.  Thomas.] 

John  Hanson  Thomas,  whose  name  was  changed  from 
Charles  Edward,  born  23rd  September,  181 3  ;  and  Annie 
Campbell  Gordon,  the  daughter  of  Basil  Gordon,  Esq.,  of 
Falmouth,  Virginia,  born  29th  October,  1819;  married  by 
Rev.  Mr.  Maguire,  on  Wednesday,  15th  November,  1837, 
at  Falmouth,  and  have  issue : 

Bazil  Gordon,  born  Sunday,  April  14th,  1839. 

John  Hanson,  born  Tuesday,  September,  21st  1841. 

A  girl,  born  October  18th,  1843. 

Raleigh  Colston,  born  October  8th,  1844. 

Douglas  Hamilton,  born  January  1st,  1847. 

Annie  Gordon,  born  May  20th,  1849. 

Mary  Randolph,  born  October  10th,  1851. 

John  Marshall,  born  Monday,  December  5th,  1853. 

[The  above  was  written  by  Dr.  John  Hanson  Thomas.] 


Heraldic  (Description  of  Coats  of  Arms  : 
THOMAS. 

ARMS. — Sable,  a  chevron,  ermine,  a  canton  of  last. 
CREST. — A  demi-unicorn,  ermine,  armed  and  crined,  or, 
supporting  a  shield  of  sable. 

Motto. — "  Virtus  invicta  gloriosa." 

GORDON. 
ARMS. — Azure,  three  boars'  heads,  erased,  or. 
CREST. — A  boar's  head  as  in  the  arms. 
MOTTO. — "Forward  without  fear." 

[Note. — Our  family  have  always  used  the  motto:  "Ammo  non 
astutia,"  but  from  certain  information,  and  from  a  careful  examina- 
tion of  the  subject,  I  am  convinced  it  is  wrong,  and  have  therefore 
taken  the  liberty  of  correcting  it. — Douglas  H.  Thomas.] 

KNOX. 

Arms. — Gules,  a  falcon  volant,  argent,  within  an  orle, 
wary,  argent. 

CREST. — A  falcon  perched  ;  supporters:  two  falcons,  wings 
expanded,  ducally  gorged,  chained,  beaked,  taloned,  or. 
Motto. — "Moreo  et  profitior." 

HANSON. 

ARMS. — Azure,  a  cross  battonee  (or  cross  treffles,  fr. ),  or 
cantoned  by  four  fleur  de  lis  argent. 
CREST. — A  martlett,  proper. 
MOTTO. — "  Sola  virtus  invicta." 

CONTEE. 

Arms. — Gules  and  azure,  a  chevron,  ermine  between  three 
wolves  passant,  or. 

COLSTON. 

Arms. — Argent,  between  two  dolphins,  haurient  respect- 
|   ing  each  other,  an  anchor,  all  proper. 

CREST. — A  dolphin,  embowed,  proper. 
MOTTO. — "  Go  and  do  thou  likewise." 

L ...   


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168*1  2-62G 


